Opinions of accreditation

[CrymsinSky]

My department is undergoing the process to get accreitated by CALEA and I was wondering if any have any experiences of working in the "accredited" atmosphere. One officer who left an accredited agency says it's nothing but headaches for the officer and leaves the administration untouched by the actions of an officer. Any thoughts?

[JHoek]

My depatment is CALEA, but I do not know a lot about it. We have a Sgt who's only job is to do the CALEA paperwork. Seems like a waste of money to me. I do not know of any benefits to be accredited.

[MPD-A9]

We are undergoing getting recertified. We have a full time accredidation manager. Now, we have a patrol officer, and a patrol sgt. helping out. We are 8 people shy on patrol. To me, it is a waste of manpower and money. They said that it will get the dept more money, but LE grant money has been cut. Also, it means a policy about everything.

[Delta784]

I think it's a colossal waste of time, money, and manpower.

[Washingtonian]

It's a huge waste of time and resources.

[CrymsinSky]

So, I understand it's a waste of time and money. How does it affect the work environment? More restrictive, no change?

[Washingtonian]

So, I understand it's a waste of time and money. How does it affect the work environment? More restrictive, no change?

Much more restrictive. As someone mentioned, it means a policy about EVERYTHING. Tons of micromanagement and a waste of a lot of resources that could be used elsewhere. Administrators really love it though, it gives them a meaningless accomplishment that they can brag about.

[BrickCop]

Cash
Accepted from
Law
Enforcement
Agencies

[Delta784]

Cash
Accepted from
Law
Enforcement
Agencies

HAHAHA!!!!

[FNA209]

There's a push for us to do it, but we've been successful in stopping it so far. But, I can see it happening at some point.

[Caspertoo]

Oh yes, polcies on EVERYTHING. But on the plus side the public does respond well to it, of course not the public we normally deal with, but still.

[squad51]

I know that Burnsville MN paid 100,000 to get re-accredited...that does not count the money they paid for a SGT to be the reaccrediation guy..figure thats another 80 grand on top of the 100k. That is 180 grand that city wasted.....that is the equalivent of three officers payroll for the year! You would think that they could have used that money in other places....

[curlyblue]

Hate it, hate it, hate it! Too much paperwork, too many policies. Our policy manual should be put on disk as big as it is. Once every three years the CALEA gods come down and shine their light on us and we have to dance around for them. What a waste of money and time!

[PABear31]

There are a lot of negatives to CALEA from the street cop's perspective. But to be fair there are some positives. 1. By having to put all policies in writing your department can't fire you for something some boss just made up. 2. Accreditation just cut the cost of your departments liability insurance by a substantial amount. 3. At least for us accreditation meant that we got a whole lot of new equipment and upgrades. The only reason my department replaces body armour every 5 years is that CALEA says they have too. My 1st vest had to last me 10 years. We also got pepper spray, impact weapons, semi-autos and an improved radio system.
We have been accredited for 12 years and while it is a real pain in the butt for the ground troops the positives have out weighed the negatives.

[OffDuty]

HAHAHA!!!!

Exactly.

It seems to me the only reason that my dept is considering it is because a lot of other agencies are as well.. Its the latest buzzword in policing.

Always follow, never lead.. thats our motto. I wonder why its not on our cars?