On March 23, 2024, the Portsmouth Police Department was awarded its initial Law Enforcement Accreditation by the Commission of Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA®).
CALEA® Accreditation is recognized as the International Gold Standard for Public Safety Agencies.
“This is a mark of the department’s dedication and commitment to upholding the highest standards in policing,” Portsmouth Police Department said in a press release. “The Portsmouth Police Department is now one of only eleven municipal police agencies within the State of Rhode Island to hold this prestigious certification. Approximately 5% of law enforcement agencies nationwide hold the distinction of national accreditation”.
For the past 18 months, the Portsmouth Police Department says that the department has developed comprehensive policies and has demonstrated compliance with 182 mandatory standards of the policing profession. The CALEA® process began with a comprehensive self-assessment of our policies, practices, and processes. The process continued with multiple assessments conducted by the CALEA® staff which confirmed our commitment to the highest level of professionalism and performance.
Chief Brian P. Peters stated: “The Portsmouth Police Department is committed to enacting, following, and maintaining the highest standards of the police profession. This award affirms our pledge of accountability to the residents and visitors of Portsmouth as we strive to maintain a strong partnership of trust within our community. National accreditation demonstrates our commitment to providing police services which not only meet our community’s expectations but exceeds them, and exemplifies our department’s values of honesty, integrity, and pride.”