Accreditation Process
The accreditation process consists of five general phases:
I. Application
The accreditation process began when the Department applied to the Commission for applicant status. Entry into the program is voluntary, and once our eligibility was confirmed, the Department and the Commission signed an agreement that identified what was expected of each party.
II. Self-Assessment
The Department initiated a self-assessment, which involved a thorough examination by the Department to determine whether it complied with all applicable standards. The Department prepared forms and developed proofs of compliance for applicable standards and assembled the forms and "proofs" in a manner that would facilitate a review by Commission assessors. As a result of the self-assessment, numerous policies and procedures were changed to improve operations and services. Among the changes made were the Department's Emergency Vehicle Operations policy, Use of Force policy, Complaint Review Procedure and personnel practices were revised. Chief Battelle said, "The self-assessment period enabled us to conduct a formal review of all Department operations in order to make improvements in the delivery of services and to comply with the CALEA Commission's standards to further the professional level of service offered by our Department."
III. On-Site Assessment
An assessment team, composed of law enforcement practitioners from similar but out-of-state agencies, examined all aspects of the St. Louis County Police Department procedures, management, operations and support services. The assessors reviewed written materials, interviewed individuals about job functions, rode with patrol officers and visited offices and precincts to confirm our compliance.
IV. Commission Review
The assessor's final report was forwarded to the Commission for their review and recommendation. After the review and interviews with Chief Battelle and Department members, the Commission awarded the Department accredited status. Accreditation is for a three-year period.
V. Maintenance of Accreditation
To maintain accredited status, the Department must remain in compliance with all applicable standards. The Department submitted annual reports to the Commission attesting to continued compliance. At the conclusion of each three-year period, the Commission conducts another on-site assessment to ensure compliance was maintained. Each time, the Department has complied with all applicable standards.