Accreditation (CALEA)

The 1st Nationally Accredited Law Enforcement Agency in Kansas 

CALEA Law Enforcement AccreditationThe Riley County Police Department strives daily to meet the state-of-the-art standards outlined by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). The voluntary process to maintain accreditation is a highly-prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence. The Department earned its initial accreditation from CALEA in 1991becoming the 1st Nationally Accredited Law Enforcement Agency in Kansas and the 168th agency in the United States. The Department has maintained its accredited status during on-site assessments conducted in 1996, 2001, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2016, and again in 2020.

The following awards have been attained by the Riley County Police Department:

  • 2007 Reaccreditation / Meritorious Service
  • 2010 Reaccreditation / Meritorious Service and Flagship Agency
  • 2013 Reaccreditation / Meritorious Service and Accreditation With Excellence (This is the highest award attainable by CALEA)
  • 2016 Advanced Reaccreditation via Gold Standard Assessment / Meritorious Service and Accreditation with Excellence
  • 2020 Advanced Reaccreditation / Meritorious Service

Law Enforcement Accreditation CertificateThere are different levels of accreditation attainable. The Riley County Police Department elects to strive for Advanced Law Enforcement Accreditation, which means complying with all 461 national accreditation standards that are applicable to our agency

There are five phases in the accreditation process: enrollment, self-assessment, assessment, commission review and decision, and maintaining compliance and reaccreditation. The process of CALEA Accreditation begins with a rigorous self-assessment, requiring a review of department policies, practices and processes against internationally accepted public safety standards. This is followed with an assessment by independent assessors from non-Kansas affiliated entities with significant public safety experience. Additionally, public feedback is solicited to promote community trust and engagement.

The 2020 on-site assessment took place December 9, 2019 through December 12, 2019. During the assessment structured interviews were conducted involving 46 community members regarding topics such as the department's community involvement in the Crisis Co-Responder program. In addition, community meetings were held in the cities of Randolph, Riley, Leonardville, Ogden, and Manhattan for citizens to provide written or in person comments about the Riley County Police Department's ability to remain compliant with accreditation standards. The Assessment Team submitted the Final Assessment Report to CALEA and the Riley County Police Department earned its Re-Accreditation on March 21, 2020.

On April 4, 2022, the RCPD announced it has officially begun the process for the Public Safety Communications Accreditation Program through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA).

"Our Communications Center is an integral piece of RCPD's operation and continues to place itself at the forefront of emergency response practice and procedure," said Interim Director Kurt Moldrup. "Accreditation ensures these standards remain intact into the future."

The voluntary Accreditation program will provide the Communications Center with a process to internally review and assess its operations and procedures.

To learn more about the process of accreditation and our progress, please feel free to contact the Riley County Police Department's Accreditation Manager or the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA).

State Accreditation

On April 18, 2023, the Riley County Police Department became dual-accredited through newly established state of Kansas accreditation.  

The Kansas Law Enforcement Accreditation Program (KLEAP) is the official Kansas state accrediting body facilitated by the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center (KLETC).

KLEAP is a voluntary initiative for professional improvement expressing commitment to professional law enforcement practices. State accreditation includes 167 standards.

You can view all state of Kansas law enforcement agencies that have achieved KLEAP accredited status here.