The Federal Way Police Department’s dedication to protecting our community includes the commitment to holding ourselves accountable to the highest professional standards and continually working to improve our department.

Our national accreditation is an important, visible element of that commitment.

After undergoing a successful on-site assessment and a thorough review of our procedures and protocols this past August, the Federal Way Police Department went before the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies for reaccreditation Nov. 18 and received the Gold Standard Award with Excellence.

Accreditation status represents a significant professional achievement — as an organization, we are all very proud of this accomplishment.

The process of being accredited as a law enforcement agency is rigorous, with less than 10 percent of all law enforcement agencies in the United States accredited, and the Federal Way Police Department is one of only seven agencies in the state of Washington that is accredited by CALEA. This achievement shows the department is “among the leaders in policing in the region” and demonstrates our commitment to excellence.

The standards for the Law Enforcement Accreditation program provide best practice parameters and guidance for law enforcement agencies voluntarily choosing to achieve accreditation. This set of standards continues to provide a process to systematically conduct an internal review and assessment of an agency’s policies and procedures and make adjustments wherever necessary to meet a body of internationally accepted standards.

Our commitment is to continue to work hard to provide our citizens with the highest level of service possible and work towards strengthening our relationships with the citizens we serve. It is an honor to us to serve you.

Andy Hwang is the Federal Way police chief.

Andy Hwang