Police Department receives accreditation

The Elyria Police Department announced in a July 31 news release it has completed requirements to become the first Lorain County police department to receive national accreditation.

The Police Department received accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) following a formal hearing July 29 in Providence, R.I., the release said.

“The fact that the Elyria Police Department took the voluntary step to itself and its officers through this very vigorous process, is a testament to their commitment to excellence and their desire to provide high quality service to the entire Elyria Community,” said police Chief Duane P. Whitely.

Whitely called the CALEA the “gold standard in public safety” and reiterated the Elyria Police Department’s commitment to providing quality service to the community in accordance with best practices.

Awarded to only seven percent of police departments in the nation, the voluntary process requires departments to maintain updated policies and to submit annual reports in accordance with CALEA’s 189 professional standards as judged by a body of independent assessors, the release said.

CALEA conducted an on-site assessment in April which included spending multiple days at Elyria Police Department Headquarters in addition to conducting interviews with elected officials, city of Elyria administration members and employees in addition to members of the community, according to the release.

The report concluded Elyria police were compliant in every one of CALEA’s standards, rendering them eligible for accreditation which must be renewed after four years, the release said.