Round Lake Beach Police Department Garners Highest Honor

International Accreditation is Conferred at CALEA Conference

 

Press Release

Chief Douglas Larsson announced that on March 21, 2009, the Round Lake Beach Police Department received its highest honor to date when the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) conferred international accreditation status at its annual spring conference in Raleigh, North Carolina.  The conference draws representatives of law enforcement and public safety agencies from around the world.  This honor culminates a three year effort by Department members and Village Officials to ensure compliance with the 396 standards for professional management and delivery of services to the community.

 

When Chief Larsson joined the Department in 2003, he recognized the CALEA distinction as a goal he set for the Department.  Chief Larsson could not be more pleased and proud of the Department members, citizens, and Village officials for being so supportive throughout the process.

 

Chief Larsson said that the process of accreditation required the Department to expose itself to outside professionals and the community as it developed its policies and rules of conduct.  “I am blessed to have a group of dedicated police officers and civilians who want to be known as professional; each member of the Department worked very hard to learn and comply with international standards of excellence.”

 

To prepare for CALEA accreditation, Chief Larsson appointed Lt. Mike Scott as the accreditation manager.  It was Lt. Scott’s job to compare the existing procedures and policies, one by one, with 396 state-of-the-art standards for compliance.

 

Mayor Richard Hill said “I am very proud of how the Officers all worked together to achieve this high honor and recognition.  We always knew we had a top notch team.  Now that they have received Accreditation everyone else knows it too“.

 

CALEA is a 21-member, independent accrediting authority based in Fairfax, Virginia.  It was formed in 1979 to develop a set of law enforcement standards and to establish and administer an accreditation process through which law enforcement agencies could demonstrate voluntarily that they meet professionally recognized criteria for excellence in management and service delivery.

 

In December, a CALEA compliance audit team conducted an official on-site inspection.  CALEA assessors included Team Leader Barbara J. Hopkins, Retired Captain, Annapolis, MD, Police Department; Curtis Winn, Sergeant, Prairie Village, KS, Police Department; and Mark Scott, Captain, Thomasville, GA, Police Department.

 

Members of the community also had an opportunity to play a key role in the accreditation process.  A Public Information Session was held for members of the community to bring matters to the attention of the Commission.  Over 30 community members were in attendance.  All offered positive comments noting the professionalism of the agency and its willingness to partner with other law enforcement agencies and all elements of the community to resolve crime and educate the community.

 

The Team Leader, Barbara Hopkins summarized the inspection:

 

“The Round Lake Beach Police Department is a professional organization with enthusiastic employees.  Its commitment to the accreditation process is evidenced by its compliance with the standards. Under the leadership of Chief Douglas Larsson the agency is set to move toward continued conscientious service to the community.”