Bartlett Police Department earns national reaccreditation

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The Bartlett Police Department recently received national reaccreditation for the fifth time since 1997 from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, or CALEA.

Agencies must reapply for accreditation every three years, and the department has to regularly work to maintain compliance with the high standards set by CALEA.

The award was accepted by Williams, Deputy Chief Patrick Ullrich, Accreditation Manager Nora Ackerley and Village Administrator Valerie Salmons during a ceremony in Jacksonville, Fla. on Nov. 17.

"To hear how impressed they were and to hear us called 'second-to-none' and 'an example to other agencies throughout the nation' ... was truly inspiring," said Chief Kent Williams. "It was a great team effort and the entire village of Bartlett should be very proud."

An on-site inspection of the department was conducted in August, during which a CALEA assessment team toured the department, interviewed employees and members of the community, held a public forum, took phone calls and reviewed documents.

In addition to the reaccreditation, the department was also awarded, for the third time, the status of "Accreditation with Excellence," which recognizes commitment to the CALEA accreditation process and willingness to share policies and procedures with other CALEA agencies. Only 2 percent of accredited agencies have achieved the status three times.