COMMISSION ON ACCREDITATION FOR
LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, INC. (CALEA)

The Commission

The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA®) was created in 1979 as a credentialing authority through the joint efforts of law enforcement's major executive associations:

• 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).

Specifically, CALEA’s goals are to:

• Strengthen crime prevention and control capabilities;
• Formalize essential management procedures;
• Establish fair and nondiscriminatory personnel practices;
• Improve service delivery;
• Solidify interagency cooperation and coordination; and
• Increase community and staff confidence in the agency.

This accreditation program provides law enforcement agencies an opportunity to voluntarily demonstrate that they meet an established set of professional standards which:

• Require an agency to develop a comprehensive, well thought out, uniform set of written directives. This is one of the most successful methods for reaching administrative and operational goals, while also providing direction to personnel.
  
  
• Provide the necessary reports and analyses a CEO needs to make fact-based, informed management decisions.
  
  
• Require a preparedness program be put in place - so an agency is ready to address natural or man-made critical incidents.
  
  
• Are a means for developing or improving upon an agency's relationship with the community.
  
  
• Strengthen an agency's accountability, both within the agency and the community, through a continuum of standards that clearly define authority, performance, and responsibilities.
  
  
• Can limit an agency's liability and risk exposure because it demonstrates that internationally recognized standards for law enforcement have been met, as verified by a team of independent outside CALEA-trained assessors.
  
  
• Facilitates an agency's pursuit of professional excellence.

In 2000, the Addison Police Department received accreditation from CALEA and achieved reaccreditation in 2003, 2006 and 2009.

LINCOLN FOUNDATION AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE

Founded in 1994, The Lincoln Foundation for Performance Excellence is a not-for-profit organization backed by both private and public funding. The Foundation seeks to help Illinois organizations continuously improve their performance by encouraging, developing and highlighting excellence among five sectors: industrial enterprises, service providers, health care organizations, educational institutions, and government agencies.

Organizations seeking to improve their performance and competitive position by using The Lincoln Award Criteria for Performance Excellence may also receive statewide recognition if they become award recipients. These efforts, strongly supported by the State of Illinois, enable organizations to share each other's best practices. Without this statewide drive for excellence, Illinois would find it difficult to keep up with the fast pace of competition and ever-accelerating technological changes that constantly challenge our business acumen, our education and health care delivery systems, and our public service providers.

The Lincoln Award criteria provide a model for continuous improvement, along with the Lincoln Award recognition program, to candidate organizations in search of excellence in five sectors: Industry, Service, Health Care, Education, and Government. The continuous improvement model is patterned after the Malcolm Baldrige criteria. So long as organizations attain the necessary level of excellence, there is no limit to the number of Awards presented. Recognition aside, The Lincoln Awards for Excellence are the culmination of a thorough analytical process that encourages organizations to achieve their full potential every step of the way.