Elyria police receive 'gold standard' accreditation

The Elyria Police Department returned from Little Rock, Arkansas, this weekend with hardware, namely an accreditation Chief James Welsh called "the gold standard for law enforcement." Welsh and Sgt. Richard Buckway were in Arkansas last week to complete the testing process of the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement, or CALEA, which certifies police departments it says live up to its standards in categories such as professionalism, community connection and preparedness. The department was recommended to receive the award, and was recognized during a dinner at the end of the annual CALEA conference in Little Rock. "It is an honor to lead the Elyria Police Department and to have earned full CALEA accreditation," Welsh said in a release on Tuesday. "This milestone is a testament to the hard work, professionalism and dedication of every member of my staff. From our sworn officers to our civilian staff, each individual played a vital role in this process, demonstrating their leadership, accountability and commitment to excellence." Seeking to meet CALEA standards and receive the award is entirely voluntary, and well under 10 percent of America's roughly 18,000 police departments are accredited. "It's essentially the gold standard in law enforcement," Welsh told The Chronicle-Telegram. "It shows that we are continuing to show a commitment to delivering exceptional service and ensuring the safety and security of the community." Elyria was first accredited by CALEA in 2017 and this was the second time the department was recertified by the commission. Recertification is required every four years. The CALEA accreditation process involves a review of policies, standards and operations, an in-person assessment by a CALEA representative and a public hearing before the 21-member commission. On its website, CALEA said it reviews departments' written directives, police reports and analysis, emergency preparedness, community relationship-building, independent review and "continuous pursuit of excellence through annual reviews and other assessment measures." The onsite inspection was done in March, and Welsh said he and Buckway underwent the public hearing during the conference last week. "I am very proud to be the chief of this department," Welsh said. "We are heading in the right direction. I think the department is unified and this is just another example of all the things that my staff do on a regular basis to show a commitment to excellence, transparency and serving the community." Elyria Safety Service Director Chris Pyanowski said that he was proud of the work that Welsh and the rest of the department put into obtaining accreditation. "The recertification is a clear sign that the department is doing well and meeting industry standards," Pyanowski said. "... The assessor from CALEA came and met with us locally, and met with a number of local stakeholders. I thought the review was thorough and professional and I thought that the Police Department throughout that process performed very professionally, they obviously made a good impression." Contact Owen MacMillan at (440) 329-7123 or omacmillan@chroniclet.com.