MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR The history of an organization has a profound impact on its culture, and CALEA has been fortunate
to have had countless leaders within the Commission that have consistently contributed to the ongoing advancement of the organization. In fact, the growth of CALEA over the past 33 years has occurred over many different eras under different leadership with various priorities. However, each has ensured CALEA has maintained its mission of providing public safety accreditation services through the development and administration of standards. This focused objective has worked to establish an organiza- tion that is broadly recognized as the preeminent leader in public safety accreditation.
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n the late 1970s and into the first few years of the 1980s, CALEA was primarily focused on the establishment of an organizational structure that allowed for the delivery of law enforcement accreditation services in an unadulterated manner. This required the support of the founding associations and the critical planning of numerous professionals, all committed to es- tablishing an independent authority that was capable of review- ing agencies against standards without inappropriate influence. Also, this time period was dominated with the development of the first edition of standards for law enforcement agencies. The contributions of CALEA’s Commission really set the stage for the organization to become a significant professional association within the law enforcement community.
Following the first agencies participation in the process, CALEA focused on lessons learned and spent much of the next five years refining its process. This included the reduc- tion in the number of standards, the development of reporting processes that complemented the needs of agencies and the Commissioners responsible for reviewing them. This quest for process improvement included the countless special commit- tees and research groups, as well as subject matter experts with experience in the field of law enforcement accreditation.
As CALEA entered the 1990s, the organization was faced with the challenges of client growth. This included the development of strategies to publicize the benefits of CALEA Accreditation and also how to effectively manage the rising number of participating agencies. These challenges tested the organizational capacities of CALEA and required the organization to apply more effective business principles and management strategies that ensured an effective future for the organization. The period was also impacted by new editions of the standards and continued proliferation of the accreditation concept as a model that yielded positive results. In the mid 1990s, CALEA experimented with emerging technolo- gies and began to search for tools to make the process more man- ageable and effective for agencies. Additionally, CALEA attempted hybrid programming that offered credentialing programs for functional components of law enforcement agencies.
With the approach of the new millennium, CALEA began the process of expanding services beyond law enforcement, and introduced the CALEA Public Safety Communications Ac- creditation Program. Later the CALEA Public Safety Training Academy Accreditation Program was introduced, which began to expand CALEA’s influence in the broader public safety com- munity. Additionally, efforts were developed to partner with other credentialing associations at the state-level, with inten- tions of further increasing the number of participant agencies.
As CALEA approached the close of the next decade, the CALEA Campus Security Accreditation Program was released. More recently, the period has seen the expansion of options for agencies with multi-level accreditation, the option of robust web-based applications, the introduction of electronic publications, affinity partnerships with other service provid- ers, and a new assessment models for agencies with signifi- cant accreditation experience. The organization has advanced in the field of technology by implementing sophisticated financial management software, client management software, next generation communication strategies, prospective client tracking systems, and the use of web messaging for feedback and the development of important issues.
CALEA has much to be proud of and each era of Commission leadership within the organization has made contributions that have provided opportunities for the next. As we transition for 2012 to 2013, I am excited about the future for the organi- zation. As I prepare for my retirement in 2013, I am reminded that CALEA is the Mark of Professional Excellence in Public Safety because many have cared to create and preserve its brand. I also know I will be leaving CALEA in the good hands of those that value its role in the public safety community, and also understand great organizations are the product of continuous dedication and uncompromising commitment.
Sylvester Daughtry, Jr. Executive Director
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