Special to 1808Delaware
The Powell Police Department has been an accredited police agency since 2002 through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA).
In 2020, the Police Department went through the assessment process and was awarded with the Advanced Accreditation for Law Enforcement with Excellence during CALEA’s virtual hearing on Friday, March 26.
“The process of CALEA Accreditation begins with a rigorous self-assessment, requiring a review of policies, practices and processes against internationally accepted public safety standards,” said W. Craig Hartley, Jr., the executive director for CALEA. “CALEA Accreditation is a continuous process and serves as the foundation for a successful, well managed, transparent, community-focused public safety agency.”
A team of assessors reviewed police policies and procedures as well as invited the community to provide feedback on the Police Department as part of the accreditation process. Verification by the team that the Police Department meets the Commission’s standards is part of a voluntary process to gain accreditation.
Being an accredited police agency assists in strengthening crime prevention, formalizing essential management procedures, establishing fair personnel practices, improving service delivery, solidifying interagency cooperation and increasing community confidence in the agency.
“The Powell Police Department is honored to be awarded law enforcement accreditation for the seventh time,” said Police Chief Stephen Hrytzik. “Our staff works diligently to obtain this high level of accreditation and excellence every single day through our mission of community policing. We’re grateful for the continued support from our residents and businesses.”
