FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 8, 2023

MEDIA CONTACTS

Todd Bernard, Lieutenant, South Portland Police, toddbe@southportland.org, (207) 799-5511 x7241

Shara Dee, Communications Officer, sdee@southportland.org, (207) 347-4143

  

PRESS RELEASE

South Portland Police Department Invites Public Comment As It Seeks CALEA Reaccreditation

SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine – The South Portland Police Department (SPPD) invites members of the public to submit comments related to its candidacy for reaccreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA).

CALEA is an accreditation known as the “Gold Standard in Public Safety.” First awarded this accreditation in 2018, SPPD is one of only five Maine agencies with CALEA certification. Just 5% of police departments in the U.S. hold this elite designation. CALEA accreditation ensures that the Department’s policies, procedures, equipment, and training are the most contemporary and follow best practices.

SPPD remains committed to ensuring that the agency possesses the highest level of professionalism and service delivery through the CALEA review and is seeking public comment as part of its reaccreditation process. Members of the public are encouraged to comment, either in the form of commendations or concerns, regarding the agency's compliance with CALEA standards, engagement in the service community, delivery of public safety services, and overall candidacy for accredited status. The overall intent of the accreditation process is to provide the participating agency with information to support continuous improvement, as well as foster the pursuit of professional excellence. Anyone wishing to submit a comment can do so at: https://cimrs2.calea.org/807

"CALEA Accreditation is a continuous process and serves as the foundation for a successful, well managed, transparent, community-focused public safety agency,” wrote W. Craig Hartley, Jr. the Executive Director of CALEA, in SPPD’s 2022 award letter. “CALEA congratulates the South Portland Police Department for demonstrating a commitment to professional excellence through accreditation.” SPPD will seek CALEA reaccreditation this March.

 

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