The Powell Police Department received the Meritorious Advanced Accreditation for Law Enforcement with Excellence award.
The award was presented during a conference of the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies March 25.
Powell’s police department has been an accredited law enforcement agency with CALEA since 2002.
“Im Certainly pleased on behalf of the police department and the community to receive the award.” said Gary Vest, police chief. “The award is based on the hard work of the members of the department and the relationship it has built with the community.”
Vest said CALEA is an organization built by the piers of the law enforcement community who want to meet the expectations of the law enforcement profession and community.
Vest said a team of assessors spent four days reviewing the department’s policies, procedures and collected feedback from the community as part of the agencies Gold Standard assessment.
Vest said he liked having the extra set of eyes that comes with having an audit system in place.
“The audit process proves we are doing what we are supposed to be doing,” he said. “It’s an audit process that covers the whole gamut of what police do.”
Vest said CALEA assessed departments every three years, but is going to a four-year cycle.
Vest was awarded the Egon Bittner Award which is presented to chiefs who have commanded a CALEA-accredited agency for 15 or more continuous years.
Vest said it is a little unusual for a chief to command a department for that length of time.
“CALEA has a fairly good representation in Ohio,” Vest said. “Genoa Township is the only other accredited department in Delaware County.”
According to a statement from CALEA, “From the Chief down to the newest member of the organization, the dedication to the people and the business of the City of Powell is the highest priority. Through direct law enforcement service in the field, good stewardship of resources and involvement in community civic ventures, the city should be very proud of its police force.”
Vest said the the Powell Police Department employs “19 sworn police officers.”
