OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) – The Oshkosh Police Department has again been nationally accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA).
The agency was first accredited in 1994. Officer Kate Mann says they have to meet specific professional standards and practices to even be considered.
“The assessors verify that OPD meets specific professional standards and uses the best practices in law enforcement,” Mann said. “They conduct meticulous assessments of community engagement, policy, procedures, equipment, and facilities…It just makes sure that we are up to date with the best practices in law enforcement and that we have set standards and policies, and that we’re operating at the best that we can.”
Assessors look at community engagement, policy, procedures, equipment, and facilities as part of the review. But the accreditation provides more than just a label.
“Increased community advocacy, staunch support from government officials, stronger defense against civil lawsuits, reduced risk and liability exposure, and greater accountability with the agency,” Mann said. “This also allows people from an outside agency to look at what we’re doing and give us any guidance or suggestions. So we’re very proud of this accreditation.”
“This award of accreditation does not come easy,” said CALEA President Anthony Purcell, Chief of Police, University of Alabama at Birmingham Police Department. “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.”
Mann also thanked community members that participated in the accreditation process for their continued support of the agency.
The Oshkosh Police Department is the only municipal law enforcement agency in the state of Wisconsin that is nationally accredited through CALEA.
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