CALEA Recognition

CALEA’s recognition and accreditation programs were originally developed to address a perceived need to enhance law enforcement as a profession and to improve law enforcement services in the communities they serve. To qualify for the Recognition award, an agency must meet 112 standards from the Standards for Law Enforcement Agencies accreditation manual. The standards address life, health and safety issues, critical legal issues and conditions which reduce risk and high liability exposure. Recognition provides objective evidence of an agency’s commitment to improve resource management and service delivery.

In November 2007, a CALEA assessor spent several days inspecting VPD’s policies and procedures, interviewing staff and reviewing the operations of the Department to ensure compliance with all required standards put forth by the commission. In March of 2008, at its Atlanta, Georgia conference, the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies voted unanimously to award the Vermillion Police Department with Recognition. With the achievement, Vermillion became only the second law enforcement agency in South Dakota to be awarded by CALEA. Rapid City Police have maintained CALEA accreditation since 1990.

Learn more about CALEA Recognition here