Pascagoula Police Department Earns National Accreditation

The City of Pascagoula is proud to announce that the Pascagoula Police Department has officially earned national accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (C.A.L.E.A.)

C.A.L.E.A was formed in 1979 as a credentialing authority, and represents the gold standard in public safety. The accreditation process generally lasts about three years, and law enforcement agencies must prove that they meet C.A.L.E.A.’s criteria across approximately 190 different categories, including pursuit, recruitment and personnel practices, equipment regulation, evidence collection, and more. Pascagoula Police Department completed the accreditation process in less than two years.

“Earning national accreditation is a tribute to the hard work of the many women and men here at the Police Department,” said Police Chief, Kenny Johnson. “We are all honored to serve the Pascagoula community, and we are humbled to be able to say that we are among the top law enforcement agencies in the State of Mississippi and the nation.”

Law enforcement agencies that are nationally accredited by C.A.L.E.A. all have formally adopted policies and procedures which guide their practices. The accreditation process is independently assessed by those outside of the area, and include public input, guaranteeing an objective decision-making process. Having policies and procedures that are consistent with C.A.L.E.A.’s law enforcement management model are proven to strengthen crime prevention and control, improve service delivery, and streamline interagency cooperation.

The Pascagoula Police Department is currently working with C.A.L.E.A. officials to coordinate an official award presentation, which will take place in the near future.