ACCREDITATION UNIT
Lt. Virgil Hubbard
KPD Headquarters
800 Howard Baker Jr. Ave.
Knoxville, TN 37915
865-215-7522
vhubbard@cityofknoxville.org
The Knoxville Police Department is accredited through the Commission
on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA). CALEA
was formed in 1979 through the combined efforts of the International
Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), the National Organization
of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), the National Sheriff's
Association (NSA) and the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF).
The commission was formed for two reasons: 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.
The accreditation process involves a comprehensive self-assessment
by the department of the 459 standards. The standards address six
major law enforcement areas: (1) role, responsibilities and relationships
with other agencies; (2) organization, management and administration;
(3) personnel administration; (4) law enforcement operations, operational
support and traffic; (5) prisoner and court related services; and
(6) auxiliary and technical services.
After undergoing self-assessment, an on-site assessment is completed
by a team of trained independent assessors. These CALEA assessors
verify the department's compliance with standards by checking its
proofs and interviewing operations and management personnel. A public
hearing is also held to elicit citizens' comments. Accreditation periods
are three years in duration. During this time the department must
maintain compliance with the standards and must submit annual reports
attesting to this fact. Reaccreditation occurs at the end of this
period, pending another successful on-site assessment and hearing
before the commission.
The Knoxville Police Department completed the initial accreditation
process in November 1992, and has been re-accredited successfully
in November 1997, December 2000, November 2003, and again in November
2006. The department is scheduled for its next assessment in August
2009. Through the accreditation process, the Knoxville Police Department
maintains external independent verification of its policing excellence.
In December 2004, the Knoxville Police Department's Law Enforcement
Training Academy received its initial award for CALEA's Public Safety
Training Academy Accreditation program. The police department's training
academy led the way as the first training academy that is part of
a municipal police department to be nationally accredited. With the
accreditation of the training academy, CALEA presented the City of
Knoxville with the TRI-ARC Excellence Award for having successfully
completed three accreditation programs - law enforcement, communications,
and public safety training academy. The Law Enforcement Training Academy
was reassessed by CALEA in August 2007 and is expected to receive
its second accreditation award in November 2007.
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 employees' safety; and processes to safeguard
employees' rights. Employees of the Knoxville Police Department
take pride in their police service, knowing it represents the very
best in law enforcement.
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