The Huntsville Police Department Given its Fourth Accreditation Award

 

Huntsville, Alabama (March 25, 2007) Huntsville Public Safety Director Rex Reynolds announced today that the Police Department has been re-accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA). The Commission was established as an independent accrediting authority in 1979 for law enforcement agencies to demonstrate they meet professionally recognized standards for excellence in management and services. The Department received its initial accreditation March 23, 1996.

 

Director Reynolds who was then Police Chief during the last accreditation assessment in December said, “It was truly a proud day to see our Department ranked among the highest in the nation when we received the award in North Carolina last weekend. Because of the hard work of our employees and the Accreditation team under Lieutenant Sherry Jackson, we were among the best Departments in the nation that were twice our size.”

 

Mayor Loretta Spencer congratulated the Department for its successful fourth award on behalf of the City Council and the citizens of Huntsville. “When I meet people, both visitors and citizens, they are very complementary of our Department. We always knew our men and women provided professional services, now we have a near perfect report card which reflects we are among the best law enforcement agencies around the world.”

 

 

Interim Police Chief Henry Reyes said he looks forward to leading the Department under the vision that began under Chief Ric Ottman, Chief Compton Owens and more recently Chief Reynolds. Reyes said, “This is an honor to Chief Ottman’s memory and his vision for the Department. We recognize that living in Huntsville, our Department has some of the best technology in the world, but we have always put the emphasis on our people. In return, our Commanders, Uniformed Officers and civilian employees have been recognized for a job well done. Accreditation could not have been accomplished without the teamwork of all our personnel.”

 

There are over 900 public safety agencies enrolled in some stage of the CALEA process. In the United States, approximately 25 percent of all full-time state and local law enforcement officers work at agencies that are officially recognized under CALEA’s standards.