Professional Standards Unit
Accreditation and Provincial Policing Standards
The phrase “to accredit” means “to recognize an agency or institution as conforming to a body of standards related to a specific discipline”.
The benefits of Accreditation is that the community can be assured that its' law Enforcement Agency is committed to high quality service and that the agencies policies and procedures are effective and responsive, but yet fair and equitable. It also enhances community understanding of the Law Enforcement Agency’s role along with its goals and objectives.
Accreditation promotes community cooperation and understanding. It requires an in-depth review of every aspect of an agency’s organization, management, operations and administration.
On July 31st, 1993 the Camrose Police Service achieved its first Accreditation status through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). The Camrose Police Service was the first Police Service in Canada with under one hundred Police Officers to achieve such distinction. The Accreditation process at that time was valid for a period of five years.
On July 31st, 1998 the re-Accreditation process, with the commitment of the members and staff of the Camrose Police Service, was once again successful, with a second Accreditation status being awarded. The Accreditation process at this time was changed to a three year cycle instead of the previous five year cycle.
The Camrose Police Service continued to maintain their Accreditation status by being awarded such status on July 31, 2001 (third Accreditation award); July 31, 2004 (fourth Accreditation award) and on July 28, 2007 (fifth Accreditation award).
The Camrose Police Service is in the process to seek their sixth Accreditation award in April of 2010.
On April 11, 2006 the Camrose Police Service was the first police agency in Alberta to successfully meet the newly created Provincial Policing Standards as set out by the Solicitor General of the Province of Alberta. The provincial policing standards were established by the province to ensure that the citizens of Alberta are receiving “effective and adequate” policing.
The Camrose Police Service has shown its' commitment to professionalism in terms of adherence to a body of policing standards. Without the commitment and due diligence of the members and staff, this level of professionalism would not be able to be achieved and maintained.
Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (C.A.L.E.A.)
