West Orange Police Get Visit From Accreditation Assessor

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of the Township of West Orange. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.

An assessor from the Commission on the Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) arrived in West Orange from October 30 to November 1 in order to examine the West Orange Police Department’s policies and procedures, management, operations and support services.

The purpose of CALEA Accreditation is to establish a foundation within public safety agencies that focuses on achieving the best outcomes in the delivery of services. Consistent internal and external review, combined with third-party validation of an agency’s policies and procedures, is critical in the delivery of high-quality public safety services.

Through the constant assessment of strengths and weaknesses within the construct and application of best practices, the CALEA Accreditation process aids in maintaining our agency’s ongoing commitment to procedural justice, ethical policing, community trust and engagement, transparency in service delivery, appropriate organizational culture, fairness in systems and processes, and consistency in what citizens should expect from their law enforcement agency.

“Endorsement by CALEA is a highly-prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence,” said West Orange Police Chief James P. Abbott. ““Accreditation results in greater accountability within the agency, increased community advocacy and more confidence in our ability to operate efficiently and respond to community needs.”

CALEA Assessor Tamera Bulla conducted over 50 interviews of agency members, community partners and local business owners.

As part of the on-site assessment, agency employees and members of the community were invited to offer comments at a public comment portal at any time. The purpose of this public portal is to receive comments regarding an agency's compliance with CALEA standards, engagement in the service community, delivery of public safety services, and overall candidacy for accredited status.

The West Orange Police Department has been accredited since 2006 and is one of only seven municipal agencies in New Jersey to achieve and maintain National Accreditation.

Accreditation is awarded every 4 years. During this period the agency matriculates to a requirement of ongoing compliance with applicable standards, which is validated through annual compliance reviews and site-based interviews and observations once every four years.

Assessor Bulla will be presenting her findings to the Commission and the agency will be considered for reassessment by the Coalition Board at the national conference in March 2024.

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