Mount Pleasant Police Receives 9th Reaccreditation

Mount Pleasant, SC – The Mount Pleasant Police Department received their 9^th accreditation award, with excellence, on July 28^th during a formal hearing in Grand Rapids, Michigan. 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 April 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 processes 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.