Special to Iredell Free News
The Mooresville Police Department has been awarded national accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc. in the communication program.
Following a multi-year self-assessment phase and a meticulous site-based assessment of community engagement, policy, procedures, equipment and facilities by CALEA assessors, MPD Assistant Chief Joseph Cooke, Director of E-911 Communications Susan Davis, and Accreditation Manager Jennifer Harris attended the CALEA conference in Oklahoma. Each agency being reviewed goes before CALEA’s 21-member Board of Commissioners where the commission reviews all findings and determines the agencies’ accreditation status.
The evening of the hearing, during the celebration banquet, CALEA Chairperson Marlon Lynch and Executive Director Craig Hartley awarded MPD with accreditation, signifying excellence in public safety and commitment to community.
This is Mooresville Police Department’s first award of national accreditation in communication. The Mooresville Police Department Communications Division now moves into CALEA’s four-year Accreditation cycle that includes four annual remote, web-based file reviews and a site-based assessment in the fourth year.
The Mooresville Police Department has been accredited in Law Enforcement since 2015.
“We are proud of this accomplishment for our department,” said MPD Chief Ron Campurciani. “All members of our department—officers, telecommunicators, professional staff—work tirelessly to serve our community with pride and integrity. Their commitment to providing our community with the highest level of public safety is reflected in this accreditation.”
In 1979, the Commission was created through the combined efforts of four major law enforcement organizations—the International Association of Chiefs of Police, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, National Sheriffs’ Association and the Police Executive Research Forum.
The purpose of the Commission is to develop standards based on international best practices in public safety and to establish and administer the accreditation process. Through the accreditation process, a public safety agency voluntarily demonstrates how it meets professionally recognized criteria for excellence in management and service delivery.
“This award of accreditation does not come easy,” said CALEA President Marcus Brown. “Agencies must go through a rigorous review and evaluation of their organization and then implement the necessary policy and procedure changes. The process does not stop at that point. By voluntarily choosing to seek CALEA accreditation, the agency commits to an ongoing review of adherence to CALEA’s standards. Each community with CALEA accredited agencies should be feel confident that their public safety organization is going above and beyond and operating under the highest standards in public safety.”