The Bellevue Police Department is proud to have been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) since 2005. CALEA accreditation is the gold standard in policing, reserved for less than 6% of all law enforcement agencies in the United States. CALEA Accreditation allows public safety agencies to voluntarily demonstrate they meet an established set of professional standards based on industry best practices and are approved by an all-volunteer Board of Commissioners. Bellevue Police Chief Wendell Shirley serves on the Board of Commissioners.
CALEA has accredited the Bellevue Police Department with the Advanced Law Enforcement Accreditation program, meaning it reviews 461 standards over a 48-month period. A CALEA accreditation brings a comprehensive approach to help agencies improve the delivery of public safety services by standardizing approved policies developed by public safety practitioners. CALEA's goals are to:
- Strengthen crime prevention and control capabilities;
- Formalize essential management procedures;
- Establish fair and nondiscriminatory personnel practices;
- Improve service delivery;
- Solidify interagency cooperation and coordination; and
- Increase community and staff confidence in the agency.
During the most recent 2021 reaccreditation, the CALEA Site-Visit Assessment team highlighted the department's efforts in being inclusive, stating, "The advisory councils are another demonstration of commitment to the interests of different segments of their community. The BPD shows a commitment to understanding diversity and differing needs, as explained to the assessment teams by several community members. The department has done very well in providing services to its diverse community."
CALEA Accreditation Public Comment Portal
CALEA and the Bellevue Police Department welcome your feedback as we strive to continuously improve our public service. Please let us know of any commendations or concerns that pertain to the department's CALEA accreditation, community engagement, delivery of public safety services or overall candidacy for accredited status.