(Lawrenceville, Ga., November 19, 2021) Chief McClure is proud to announce that the Gwinnett County Police Department has obtained additional accreditations for Communications and the Training Academy from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA). As a result, the Gwinnett Police Department is the first Law Enforcement agency in Georgia to obtain CALEA Tri-Arc status. 

The Training Academy completed 100% of their other than mandatory standards. The review commissioner stated she had not ever seen an agency complete 100%. Chief McClure said, "I am extremely proud that our agency has achieved this rare accreditation, and I believe that this accomplishment goes to the heart of our agency's commitment to providing professional law enforcement services to our community. Our agency is committed to excellence and upholding our values of integrity, courtesy, pride, and professional growth. I would like to thank our accreditation team and all members of the agency for their efforts in achieving this goal."   

The Gwinnett Police Department is already CALEA accredited. The additional two accreditations in Communications and Training earned Gwinnett Police the Tri-Arc status, a distinction held by only 21 agencies in the US and 27 internationally. This award represents the three separate programs and symbolizes our commitment to maintaining high professional standards. CALEA selected the award name to reflect the three accreditation programs ("TRI") and symbolize the synergistic power and light created as the result of an unusual achievement ('ARC"). 

Verification that the Communications Center and Training Academy meets the Commission's state-of-the-art and internationally recognized standards is part of a voluntary process to gain accreditation – the highly prized recognition of public safety professionalism and excellence. 

The assessment team is composed of public safety practitioners from similar but out-of-state agencies. Accreditation is relevant for four years. During this time, the agency must submit annual reports and complete annual remote web-based assessments to show continued compliance with those standards under which it was initially accredited.

During the Fall Virtual Conference on Thursday, November 18, 2021, the Commission voted unanimously to credit Gwinnett Police with such high distinction of excellence. 

The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., is an independent nationally accrediting authority formed in 1979 by four major law enforcement membership associations: the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, the National Sheriff's Association, and the Police Executive Research Forum. For more information, please visit www.calea.org.