Accreditation
The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Angencies, Inc. (CALEA) is an independent accrediting authority established in 1979 by four well-respected law enforcement organizations: the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), the National Sheriffs' Association (NSA), and the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF).
The Clark County Sheriff's Office is accredited in much the same way that colleges and universities are accredited. The Sheriff's Office must meet and maintain compliance with 460 different applicable professional standards. The standards are comprehensive, address six major law enforcement areas, and are designed to maintain a high level of professionalism.
The Clark County Sheriff's Office was accredited in 1986 and was one of the first law enforcement agencies in Washington to become accredited.
CALEA accreditation is a voluntary process. Although the Sheriff's Office is not required to be accredited, we do so because we are committed to providing professional law enforcement services to our citizens.