Federal Way Police Department seeking 7th CALEA reaccreditation

Agency employees and members of the community are invited to offer comments at a virtual public information session at 5 p.m. Monday, Aug. 9.

The Federal Way Police Department is pursuing its seventh reaccreditation through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc (CALEA).

The commission has been accrediting law enforcement agencies since 1979. The Federal Way Police Department is one of only eight law enforcement agencies currently awarded the accreditation in Washington state.

A team of assessors will be conducting an evaluation of the Federal Way Police Department from Aug. 8-10. During the virtual assessment, CALEA assessors will examine all aspects of the police department’s policies and procedures, management, operations, and services.

This assessment is a methodology for assessing agencies seeking reaccreditation, which focuses on processes and outcomes associated with specific standards in agency policies. In short, it works to measure the impact of accreditation as opposed to simply confirming compliance through a file-by-file review.

The assessment team includes top public safety practitioners from around the country who have been trained to thoroughly assess police departments seeking reaccreditation status. The highly qualified team will ensure that the department meets the commission’s 459 rigorous standards.

As part of the virtual assessment, agency employees and members of the community are invited to offer comments at a virtual public information session at 5 p.m. Monday, Aug. 9.

To join the ZOOM meeting:

https://cityoffederalway.zoom.us/

Meeting ID: 928 2896 3183

Passcode: 142733

Dial by your location

1-253-215-8782 US (Tacoma)

1-206-337-9723 US (Seattle)

1-213-338-8477 US (Los Angeles)

1-888-788-0099 US Toll-free

1-877-853-5247 US Toll-free

If an individual cannot speak at the public information session, comments can be provided by telephone. The public may call 253-835-6800 to reach a dedicated phone line directly to the assessment team.

Appearances at the public information session are limited to 10 minutes and must address the agency’s ability to comply with the CALEA standards. A copy of the standards is available on the police department’s website. The standards have not yet been updated with the newly implemented police reform laws.

If you have questions, please contact Commander Kurt Schwan at 253-835-6875.

Those offering written comments about the Federal Way Police Department’s ability to meet the standards for accreditation are requested to write to: The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320, Gainesville, Virginia, 20155.