On March 25th, 2017, the Vermont State Police, the state’s largest police agency, was awarded CALEA accreditation, the standard for law enforcement accreditation throughout the country.
Follow this link to view the CALEA Accreditation Letter.
The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., (CALEA®) was created in 1979 as a credentialing authority through the joint efforts of law enforcement's major executive associations: International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), National Sheriffs' Association (NSA), and the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF).
The CALEA accreditation process is a proven modern management model. Once implemented, it presents the CEO, on a continuing basis, with a blueprint that promotes the efficient use of resources and improves service delivery — regardless of the size, geographic location, or functional responsibilities of the agency.
Now entering its fourth decade, CALEA’s law enforcement accreditation process focuses on standards that ensure best practices related to life, health, and safety procedures for an agency. For contemporary law enforcement agencies, these standards serve as a foundation for all organizational activities. Further, the program addresses high-risk issues while ensuring law enforcement officers are properly prepared to meet the basic service expectations of the community and to manage critical events.
To our constituents, CALEA accreditation is a mark of excellence. Accreditation through the CALEA program establishes accountability within the organization and improves agency transparency. The CALEA program encourages law enforcement agencies to establish partnerships with residents and local organizations to meet community expectations. Follow this link to find contact information for your local field station commander, and peruse our website to discover various ways to submit input and interact with the Vermont State Police.
The Vermont State Police Office of Professional Standards oversees the department’s accreditation program. Following the initial accreditation award, the Vermont State Police has transitioned to a role of maintaining this status. This entails updating of accreditation files, tracking agency performance, and identifying necessary changes through the completion of periodic reports, analyses, audits, inspections, and reviews. While agency self-assessment is a formal step in the initial accreditation process, it also remains an important component of preserving an accredited status.
The Office of Professional Standards also coordinates efforts to review, revise, and establish the policies and procedures that direct everyday actions of agency personnel in delivering public safety services. This requires working with other agency units to assess and compare department procedures with current best practices in the public safety field. Also, it necessitates collaboration with the Office of Professional Development to ensure that professional training and continuing education are provided to agency personnel. Such processes are an integral part of meeting the accreditation standards established by CALEA.
With the 2017 award, the Vermont State Police became the 10th state police agency in the country to be accredited by CALEA. In March 2021, VSP was successfully reaccredited. In addition to annual assessments, VSP will next be scheduled for an on-site visit in October 2024, leading to the finalizing of a four-year assessment of the current state of the organization.
In previous accreditation periods, public comment was sought during assessments to allow members of the public to provide information regarding an agency’s compliance with CALEA standards. Moving forward, this information may be submitted through a public portal. Those wishing to provide comments regarding the Vermont State Police’s compliance with CALEA standards, engagement in the service community, delivery of public safety services, and overall candidacy for accredited status may do so at this link.
