Maplewood Police Seek Three-year Accreditation

The is working to gain international recognition through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA).

A CALEA accreditation comes with 479 standards to meet. Maplewood isn't required to meet some standards—like a K-9 unit, for example—but must meet most other standards, such as hiring practices, use of force, dealing with news media, auto accidents, double handcuffs and chain of command, to name a few.

“It’s like getting a master’s degree,” said Sgt. Michael Martin, who works as the accreditation manager for Maplewood police. “It’s a long hard road.”

He said there's been a push for all the municipalities in the central county corridor to have the accreditation, but the increased professionalism and accountability throughout the department makes it all worth it.

The accreditation is a three-year process that culminates with a visit from a three-person CALEA team. Police Chief Steve Kruse, a lieutenant and Martin will sit before the panel and present proof for each standard.

After the department obtains the accreditation, officers may apply CALEA stickers on the patrol cars, and then the three-year clock starts all over, Martin said, in order to keep the rating.

Mayor James White, who once worked as Maplewood police chief, said that the accreditation would help if there were ever a law suit, because many suits have to do with training and failure to meet standards.

“The accreditation shows that we do all the training necessary and we meet all of the requirements and standards in law enforcement,” he said.

He also said that the ongoing nature of the accreditation will ensure that the Maplewood department, being smaller, will maintain any new standards.

“It ensures that you are at the top,” White said, “and that you’re aware of these and that you’ve adopted all of these policies and procedures.”

The first accreditation was awarded in 1984, when former police chiefs decided to establish a list of standards for police departments. In the nearby area, the Clayton, Richmond Heights and Webster Groves police departments have met the standards and gained accreditation.