July 13, 2021

DES MOINES, Iowa – Since 2011, the Iowa Department of Public Safety has been a proud participant in the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) program – a highly-regarded international law enforcement accrediting body.

A CALEA assessment team will examine all aspects of the Iowa Department of Public Safety’s policy and procedures, management, operations, and support services July 19-20, 2021.

“The CALEA team’s verification that the Department meets the Commission’s state-of-the-art standards is part of a voluntary process to gain accreditation – a highly prized recognition of public safety professional excellence,” said Iowa Department of Public Safety Commissioner Stephan Bayens.

As part of the assessment, agency personnel and members of the community are invited to offer comments at an online public information session on July 19, 2021, at 4:00 p.m.  Anyone interested in offering comments should contact Director Charis Paulson at 515.725.6277 prior to Noon on Monday, July 19, 2021 to be sent a link to participate in the public information session.

If unable to participate in the public information session, comments can be made by phone.  Agency employees and the public may call 515.725.6275 on July 19, 2021, between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. when the assessment team will hear comments.

Telephone comments, as well as appearances at the public information session, are limited to 10 minutes and must address the agency’s ability to comply with CALEA standards.  A copy of the standards is available at the Iowa Department of Public Safety by contacting Director Charis Paulson at 515.725.6277.

Anyone wishing to submit written comments about the Iowa Department of Public Safety’s ability to comply with standards for accreditation may send them to the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement, Inc. (CALEA), 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320, Gainesville, Virginia 20155 or email calea@calea.org.

The Iowa Department of Public Safety must comply with CALEA standards in order to gain accredited status.  Accreditation is for four years, during which the agency must submit annual reports, and participate in annual remote web-based assessments attesting continued compliance with those standards under which it was initially accredited.

ABOUT CALEA 
Considered the gold standard in public safety, CALEA accreditation provides law enforcement agencies a framework of best practices and standards to ensure accountability within their agencies, reduce liability exposure and promote effective resource management. Only 11 law enforcement agencies in Iowa are CALEA accredited. Accreditation also requires routine assessments that represent an on-going obligation to continue the quest for excellence by achieving compliance to all applicable standards and any future standards.

ABOUT THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

The Iowa Department of Public Safety (DPS) is the largest law enforcement agency in the state. It includes six divisions and several bureaus, all working together with local, state and federal government agencies and the private sector, to keep Iowa a safe place by following our core values: leadership, integrity, professionalism, courtesy, service and protection. Divisions within the Iowa DPS: Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Iowa State Patrol, Iowa State Fire Marshal Division, Iowa Division of Intelligence and Fusion Center, and Administrative Services Division. The Department of Public Safety is led by the Commissioner who is appointed by the Governor.

Iowa Department of Public Safety
215 E 7th St
Des Moines IA 50319
https://dps.iowa.gov