The La Plata (MD) Police Department was awarded national accreditation on July 23, 2022, by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) in the law enforcement program(s). The agency was first accredited in July 2018.
Following a multi-year self-assessment phase and a meticulous site-based assessment of community engagement, policy, procedures, equipment and facilities by CALEA assessors, La Plata Police Chief Carl Schinner, Compliance Coordinator Jacquelyn DeSoto, Lieutenant Michael Payne, Lieutenant Robert Bagley, along with Mayor Jeannine James attended the CALEA conference in Chicago, Illinios. Each agency being reviewed goes before CALEA’s 21-member Board of Commissioners where the commission reviews all findings and determines the agencies’ accreditation status.
The evening of the hearing, during the celebration banquet, CALEA President Marcus Brown and Executive Director Craig Hartley awarded the La Plata Police Department with accreditation, signifying excellence in public safety and commitment to community. This is the La Plata Police Department’s second award of national accreditation. The La Plata Police Department now moves into CALEA’s four-year Accreditation cycle that includes four annual remote, web-based file reviews and a site-based assessment in the fourth year.
Chief Carl Schinner noted “There has never been a more important time for police agencies to operate within law enforcements best practices than now. CALEA provides law enforcement agencies with a roadmap for success. We are honored to be Maryland’s smallest law enforcement accredited agency.”
In 1979, the Commission was created through the combined efforts of four major law enforcement organizations; the International Association of Chiefs of Police, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, National Sheriffs’ Association and the Police Executive Research Forum.
The purpose of the Commission is to develop standards based on international best practices in public safety, and to establish and administer the accreditation process. The accreditation process is how a public safety agency voluntarily demonstrates how it meets professionally recognized criteria for excellence in management and service delivery.
“This award of accreditation does not come easy,” said CALEA President Marcus Brown. “Agencies must go through a rigorous review and evaluation of their organization and then implement the necessary policy and procedure changes. The process does not stop at that point. By voluntarily choosing to seek CALEA accreditation, the agency commits to an ongoing review of adherence to CALEA’s standards. Each community with CALEA accredited agencies should feel confident that their public safety organization is going above and beyond and operating under the highest standards in public safety.”
Benefits of Accreditation
- Controlled Liability Insurance Costs – Accredited status makes it easier for agencies to purchase liability insurance; allows agencies to increase the limit of their insurance coverage more easily; and, in many cases, results in lower premiums.
- Stronger Defense Against Lawsuits and Citizen Complaints – Accredited agencies are better able to defend themselves against lawsuits and citizen complaints. Many agencies report a decline in legal actions against them once they become accredited.
- Greater Accountability Within the Agency – Accreditation standards give the Chief Executive Officer a proven management system of written directives, sound training, clearly defined lines of authority, and routine reports that support decision making and resource allocation.
- Staunch Support from Government Officials – Accreditation provides objective evidence of an agency’s commitment to excellence in leadership, resource management, and service-delivery. Thus, government officials are more confident in the agency’s ability to operate efficiently and meet community needs.
- Increases Community Advocacy – Accreditation embodies the precepts of community-oriented policing. It creates a forum in which police and citizens work together to prevent and control crime. This partnership helps citizens understand the challenges confronting law enforcement and gives law enforcement clear direction about community expectations.
- Improved Employee Morale – Accreditation is a coveted award that symbolizes professionalism, excellence, and competence. It requires written directives and training to inform employees about policies and practices; facilities and equipment to ensure employee safety; and processes to safeguard employee rights. Employees take pride in their agency, knowing it represents the very best in public safety.
About CALEA:
The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., (CALEA®) was created in 1979 as a credentialing authority through the joint efforts of law enforcement’s major executive associations: International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP); National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE); National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA); and the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF).
The purpose of CALEA’s Accreditation Programs is to improve the delivery of public safety services, primarily by: maintaining a body of standards, developed by public safety practitioners, covering a wide range of up-to-date public safety initiatives; establishing and administering an accreditation process; and recognizing professional excellence.
Specifically, CALEA’s goals are to: Strengthen crime prevention and control capabilities; Formalize essential management procedures; Establish fair and nondiscriminatory personnel practices; Improve service delivery; Solidify interagency cooperation and coordination; and Increase community and staff confidence in the agency.
The CALEA Accreditation Process is a proven modern management model; once implemented, it presents the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), on a continuing basis, with a blueprint that promotes the efficient use of resources and improves service delivery—regardless of the size, geographic location, or functional responsibilities of the agency.
This accreditation program provides public safety agencies an opportunity to voluntarily demonstrate that they meet an established set of professional standards based on industry best practices and approved by an all-volunteer board of commissioners.
About La Plata Police Department:
The La Plata Police Department (LPPD) was formed in 1963. It wasn’t until 1987 that a second officer was added to the force. In 1993, LPPD’s staff grew to four (4) officers allowing the agency to provide limited overnight patrol coverage. Residential growth, annexation, and rebuilding after the 2002 F4 tornado has been the catalyst behind the population increase.
Modern day LPPD has twenty-five (25) sworn personnel positions providing twenty-four (24) hour coverage. Moreover, LPPD officers are well trained and equipped to serve and protect the residents and businesses in the Town. Although most specialized assignments are part-time, the agency has officers certified in collision reconstruction, drug recognition (traffic), impaired driving checkpoints, commercial vehicle inspection, emergency casualty care, crime scene processing, field training, residential and commercial crime prevention, as well as, general, firearms, taser, less lethal, and field sobriety instructors.
