Oswego PD Among 5 Percent Of State Law Enforcement Agencies Accredited By CALEA

OSWEGO, IL — The Oswego Police Department is among five percent of Illinois law enforcement agencies accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, the village announced Friday.

In Illinois, only 47 out of 877 law enforcement agencies have received CALEA accreditation, which recognizes departments for excellence in public safety and commitment to communities, according to officials.

The Oswego Police Department first earned the recognition in 2005. The CALEA commission voted to reapprove reaccreditation on Nov. 19 — the sixth time for the agency.

"It has become the culture of this department to operate at these high standards," Chief Jeff Burgner said in a statement. "This award is validation that our personnel and operations are aligned with national guidelines and best practices for the delivery of public safety services."

CALEA conducts annual assessments of agencies over a four-year period, which ends with a detailed site-based assessment. In Oswego, that took place virtually between Aug. 9 and Aug. 11. The process, which couldn't take place in person due to the COVID-19 pandemic, included a review of the department's reports, policies and procedures, in-depth inspections of the police department operations that took place over the course of three days, and 57 virtual interviews with agency personnel and community members.

"We’ve known our police officers were among the best based on their dedication to the community, service to our residents and commitment to excellence," Village President Troy Parlier said in a statement. "The CALEA reaccreditation confirms what we already know as a community. We are very proud of our police department."

The accreditation signifies police officers are "at the forefront of the best practices in the profession and is committed to providing the level of professionalism and service delivery expected by the community and business members of Oswego," officials said.

The recent award will be valid until 2025, and the department is required to maintain its compliance, which is verified annually.