Mount Pleasant, SC – The Mount Pleasant Police Department received
their 8th accreditation award on July 25th during a
formal hearing in Colorado Springs, Colorado. For this reaccreditation cycle
the Mount Pleasant Police Department participated in a Gold Standard
Assessment. This type of assessment focuses primarily on processes and outcomes
associated with standards specific to agency policies. Assessors from the Commission on Accreditation
for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) reviewed the policies, procedures,
processes and outcomes of the Mount Pleasant Police Department in March of this
year.
To receive accreditation status, the Mount Pleasant Police
Department needed to comply with 484 standards that focus on all facets of the
agency. One of the criteria to receive reaccreditation with excellence is to
have at least 90% compliance with standards that are not mandatory. The Mount
Pleasant Police Department carries 100% compliance with these standards.
“Participation in the accreditation process ensures we are
providing the highest level of police service to our community,” says Chief
Ritchie. “Our process is so successful because of the commitment given from
everyone in our organization. Line level officers up through our command staff
believe in this endeavor. Having our process examined by an outside agency
shows that we are in pursuit of accountability and transparency.”
CALEA accreditation is a voluntary process which includes a
self-assessment, an onsite assessment, community input, officer interviews and
a formal hearing in front of a review committee. The Mount Pleasant Police
Department first became accredited in 1992 and was given the Meritorious Award
in 2009 after having been accredited continuously for over 15 years. According to
CALEA only 5% of all agencies in the nation are accredited.
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