On November 20, 1999 the Department was reaccredited at the Commission meeting in Atlanta, Georgia. This reaccreditation is effective March 22, 2000, the first anniversary of the Department’s initial accreditation.

The Township of Derry Police Department continues to review its policies and procedures to ensure compliance with CALEA standards in anticipation of a March 2008 reaccreditation by the Commission. Accreditation is an integral part in the agency’s pursuit of excellence.

The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. was founded in 1979 to promote excellence, efficiency, and professionalism throughout our nation's law enforcement standards and administers a voluntary accreditation program

Through accreditation, law enforcement agencies at the state, county, municipal, or local level gain objective testimony that they meet professional criteria.

The 21-member Commission reflects broad representation of state, county, and local law enforcement executives, including police chiefs and sheriffs from departments of varying sizes. The Commission also includes representatives from the public and private sectors, such as state and local government officials, labor, academia and the judiciary.

The Commission was formed through the combined efforts of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), National Sheriffs' Association (NSA), and The Police Executive Research Forum (PERF). Executive members of these four groups supervise about 80 percent of the law enforcement officers in the United States.

Fully operational in October 1983, the Commission conducts its activities with fees paid by agencies applying for accreditation and encourages financial assistance from foundations and corporations to help defray part of these fees.

When the agency applies for accreditation, its chief executive officer makes a commitment to examine the agency thoroughly and to be reviewed by a team of carefully selected and trained field assessors from out-of-state agencies similar to yours.

Here are the steps in the accreditation process:

Accreditation is valid for a three year period, during which time the agency submits brief annual reports to the Commission testifying to their continued compliance with the standards by which they were initially accredited. Early in the third year of accreditation, an agency is asked to apply for reaccreditation. The reaccreditation process consists of similar procedures to those outlined above. Reaccreditation takes less time since, during the three-year accreditation period, the agency maintains compliance and implements any new or revised standards that CALEA may promulgate.

Accreditation is a recognized commitment to professional excellence and cost effective operation. Through accreditation, agencies can:

Once accredited, an agency is better able to provide its community with accurate budget justifications, reduce the possibility of vicarious liability suits and improve relationships with other criminal justice system representatives. The public can be sure that your agency is using the most up-to-date professional law enforcement practices and procedures that are internationally recognized.