Abington Township Police Department Garners Highest Honor;
International Accreditation Is Conferred at CALEA Conference

On March 20, 2004, the Abington Township Police Department received its highest honor to date when the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) conferred international accreditation status at its annual spring conference in Pasadena, California. The conference draws representatives of law enforcement and public safety agencies from throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Barbados. This honor culminates more than a year of efforts by Department members to ensure compliance with 445 standards for professional management and delivery of services to the community.

Upon accepting the award, Chief William Kelly noted, "Attaining this level of accreditation requires a lengthy, intense, and detailed examination of every aspect of Department operations, and I couldn't be more pleased and proud of our Department members, as well as the citizens we serve, for being so supportive throughout this process."

CALEA is a 21-member, independent accrediting authority based in Fairfax, Virginia. It was formed in 1979 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 professionally recognized criteria for excellence in management and service delivery.

To prepare for CALEA accreditation, the Department, under the direction of Chief Kelly, had to compare its procedures, one by one, to state-of-the-art standards in four basic areas: policies and procedures, administration, operations, and support services.

In August 2003, the Department participated in a mock inspection, and in December, the CALEA team conducted an official on-site inspection. CALEA assessors included Team Leader Jack McQueeney, Retired Deputy Chief, Oneida Indian Nation Police, Canastota, NY; Captain Judy Gershkowitz, Administrative Division Commander, Largo Police Department, Largo, FL; and Lieutenant Brian Childress, Professional Standards Division Commander, Valdosta, GA.

Members of the Abington community had an opportunity to play a key role in the accreditation process during public information sessions held by on-site inspectors in early December. During both a phone-in time on a dedicated line and at a pubic information meeting at the Township Board Room, citizens could comment on any aspect of the Abington Police Department and bring any matters of concern to the attention of the Commission. Team Leader Jack McQueeney not only stated that each citizen spoke very positively about the police department and its interaction with the community but also said, "The persons attending this public hearing were the most diverse audience I have ever seen at a CALEA public hearing. Of particular note, both the President and the Vice-President of the local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) spoke highly of the agency, its ties to the community, and its ability to meet the needs of all of the citizens of the Township of Abington."

McQueeney summarized the entire inspection by noting that the Department's clear compliance with standards shows its commitment to superior quality service to the community it serves. He went on to say, "Their involvement with their community sets an example, which other agencies should emulate. Their organizational philosophy of community policing is clearly evident." In fact, he added that the Department's files were so comprehensive that "It was evident the Abington Township Police have been living the CALEA philosophy."