Joliet Police Department Gets Award Of Excellence

(The following press release and photo caption were submitted by the Joliet city manager's office.)

JOLIET, IL - The Joliet Police Department has received its second straight award of excellence from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. CALEA held hearings in Grand Rapids, Michigan to review assessment reports of over 120 different law enforcement agencies from across the nation.

Police Chief Brian Benton testified during the hearings where it was announced that the commission was awarding the Joliet Police Department with this prestigious honor for a second consecutive time.

“I had little doubt that we would be reaccredited based on the professionalism of our department, and as reinforced by our assessors during our on-site, but receiving the “Accreditation with Excellence Award” for back-to-back assessments was truly a welcome affirmation of the high quality of our department," Benton in the news release.

Less than seven percent of all law enforcement agencies in the United States, Canada, and Mexico are accredited through CALEA.

CALEA originally developed a program to enhance law enforcement as a profession and to improve law enforcement service delivery.

Joliet has been accredited since 2003. While the process is ongoing and requires regular documentation of compliance with the benchmark standards, the on-site assessments take place every three years.

(Main photo, submitted by city of Joliet, left to right: CALEA Commissioner Craig Webre, Chief Brian Benton, Accreditation Manager Officer Frank Coleman, CALEA Executive Director W. Craig Hartley)