A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) will arrive Jan. 23 to examine all aspects of the Washington State Patrol’s (WSP) policy and procedures, management, operations, and support services, the state patrol announced today.
Verification that WSP meets the Commission’s state-of-the-art standards is part of a voluntary process to gain accreditation – a highly prized recognition of public safety professional excellence. WSP will look to renew its accreditation it has held since 1992.
As part of the on-site assessment, agency personnel and members of the community are invited to offer comments. The public may call 1-888-795-4483 between the hours of 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 24.
Telephone comments are limited to 10 minutes and must address the agency’s ability to comply with CALEA Standards. Information about the standards is available by contacting WSP Headquarters at (360) 596-4141.
Persons wishing to offer written comments may write to: Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc, 10302 Eaton Place, Suite
100, Fairfax, Virginia, 22030-2215.
The Washington State Patrol must comply with 463 standards in order to gain accredited/recognized status. The assessment team is composed of public
safety practitioners from similar, but out-of-state agencies. The assessors will review written materials, interview individuals, and visit offices and other locations where compliance can be witnessed.
The assessors are Director William Howe of the St. Louis County Police Department and Karen Ashley of the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office
in Surprise, Arizona.
Once the CALEA assessors complete their review of the agency, they report back to the full commission, which will then decide if the agency is to be
granted accredited/recognition status.
Accreditation is for three years, during which the agency must submit annual reports attesting continued compliance with those standards under which it was initially accredited.
For more information regarding the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., write the Commission at 10302 Eaton
Place, Suite 100, Fairfax, Virginia 22030-2215; or call (800) 368-3757 or (703) 352-4225 or email calea@calea.org.
