Elk Grove Village Police Department Hosts Virtual On-Site Assessment For Re-Accreditation

In early August, the Elk Grove Village Police Department underwent a rigorous three-day assessment administered by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA). This on-site assessment, which was held virtually due to COVID-19, is the final step in the Police Department's 9th re-accreditation process.

Accreditation focuses on standards that provide best practices related to life, health, and safety procedures for law enforcement agencies. The accreditation process provides the framework for addressing high risk issues in a contemporary environment, and ensures officers are prepared to meet community service expectations and manage critical events.

As part of the recent on-site assessment, Police Department personnel and Village staff, as well as leaders of local community organizations and schools, participated in comprehensive interviews with the assessment team. Additionally, members of the public were invited to make comments regarding the Police Department and its operations. Following this on-site assessment, the assessment team will make a recommendation to the CALEA on renewal of the accreditation status, and the final decision will be made in November.

Accreditation is not a one-time achievement-it is an ongoing process that occurs on a four-year cycle. To maintain the accreditation status, the Police Department undergoes an annual web-based assessment of all policies and practices for the first three years of the cycle. In the fourth year, an assessment team comes on-site to evaluate and ensure that the agency is complying with over 460 internationally recognized CALEA standards that guide our professional excellence. Accreditation status is only granted after intensive review of every aspect of the Police Department.

For the Elk Grove Village Police Department, being accredited means a continuous effort in providing exceptional public safety services and strengthening the relationship between the Police Department and the community. CALEA's accreditation program is the benchmark for excellence in law enforcement and agencies that choose to participate in the program are highly valued. The Elk Grove Village Police Department is among only 5% of law enforcement agencies in the U.S. to have achieved accreditation.

The Elk Grove Village Police Department was awarded its first accreditation status in 1993 and has demonstrated its commitment to professional excellence by continually renewing this accreditation for over 26 years. The Police Department is proud to be a recipient of the Advanced Meritorious Award, which honors agencies that have maintained accreditation status for 15 or more continuous years.