The Plano Police Department is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). CALEA is an international organization which was created in 1979 through the combined efforts of four major law enforcement groups:
International Association of Chiefs of Police
National Organization of Black Law
Enforcement Executives
National Sheriff' Association, and
Police Executive Research Forum
CALEA was formed for two reasons: to develop a set of law enforcement standards; and to establish and administer an accreditation process through which law enforcement agencies could demonstrate voluntarily that they meet or exceed professionally recognized criteria for excellence in police management and service delivery.
Plano Police Department was first accredited in November of 1992. The Department has since been reaccredited three times and underwent our fourth on-site assessment in August of 2006 for reaccreditation. On-site assessment involves demonstration to an unbiased team of assessors that the policies and operating procedures utilized by the agency are in compliance with over 400 applicable standards. Compliance with the standards is proven through written documentation, presentations, and practical observations. Preparation and participation in the law enforcement accreditation is very rigorous and time consuming. Very few agencies are willing to accept the challenge. Plano is one of only twenty-three law enforcement agencies in the state that is accredited.
Benefits of accreditation include: Stronger defense against lawsuits and citizen complaints; greater accountability within the agency; support from government officials and increased community advocacy.