Published February 6 2023
We are pleased to announce the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) has appointed Bellevue Police Chief Wendell Shirley to its Board of Commissioners. CALEA accreditation is the gold standard in public safety. The Bellevue Police Department has received its CALEA accreditation six times since 2005. CALEA accredits only about five percent of all law enforcement agencies in the country.
A CALEA seal confirms an agency’s voluntary commitment to the pursuit of excellence by meeting an established set of professional standards through annual reviews and achieving other assessment measures. A CALEA accreditation is the “Mark of Professional Excellence” for today’s public safety agencies.
Chief Shirley will assist the CALEA commission with reviewing agency applications for accreditation, provide policy guidance for Commission operations and further promote this high standard of excellence in law enforcement.
“I am honored to have been selected to serve with the CALEA Commission,” said Chief Shirley. “This is an opportunity to help guide other agencies to achieve the CALEA level of excellence and maintain our department’s commitment to exceptional public service.”
The Bellevue Police Department will partner with the Northwest Police Accreditation Coalition (NWPAC) to host the CALEA Conference this fall, November 8-11, 2023, in downtown Bellevue.