Pennsylvania Capitol Police Receive 'Premier Agency' Accreditation

​ Harrisburg, PA - Today, Pennsylvania Capitol Police Superintendent Joe Jacob announced that the department recently received dual-accreditation as a "Premier Agency" through the Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission (PLEAC) and "Advanced Accreditation" through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA).

Each of those designations are the highest levels of domestic and international accreditation. Additionally, the Capitol Police was recognized with CALEA's "Meritorious Award" status for 15 or more continuous years of accredited status.

"We make our communities and our citizens safer when we ensure that our law enforcement agencies have the resources and training they need to properly serve and protect them," Superintendent Jacob said. "Accreditation allows us to measure the progress and improvement we are making as a department in training our officers, understanding and implementing the laws we enforce, and creating standardized procedures and guidelines for officers, which creates uniformity in how we carry out our mission. Achieving success in both the domestic and international accreditation processes is a testament to our dedication to effectively protect and serve our community."

Since the department's last accreditation evaluation, highlights of the Capitol Police's progress and improvement include the department wide roll-out of worn body camera technology, oversight of the Capitol Complex security upgrade, implementation of a license plate reader system, establishment of a drone technology unit, expansion of new officer orientation and instruction through the field training process, increased community engagement activities, development of the Capitol Police Recruit Program, the launch of a Capitol Police recruitment marketing campaign, and instructor certification through the International Police Mountain Bike Association to train police bike unit officers. 

"Achieving success in both the domestic and international accreditation processes solidifies our dedication to ensuring we are doing our best to effectively protect and serve our community," Jacob added.

Domestically, this is the Capitol Police's seventh PLEAC accreditation and second as a Premier Agency. PLEAC was introduced by the PA Chiefs of Police Association in 2001 as a reasonable and cost-effective plan for evaluating the professionalism of law enforcement agencies within the Commonwealth and is currently renewed every four years. The Capitol Police was first accredited in 2005, received reaccreditations in 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, and Premier Agency status in 2020.

Internationally, this is the Capitol Police's sixth accreditation through CALEA and fourth Advanced Accreditation status. CALEA is considered the "gold standard" for law enforcement credentialing. Accreditation is evaluated on the goals of improving the delivery of public safety services by maintaining a body of standards developed by public safety practitioners covering a wide range of up-to-date public safety initiatives; establishing and administering an accreditation process; and recognizing professional excellence. The Capitol Police received initial accreditation in 2007 and was reaccredited in 2010, with advanced accreditation in 2013, 2016, and 2020.

"The accreditation process is one that is very involved and detailed, from meeting deadlines, soliciting public feedback and gathering the required information, to setting up and coordinating the actual site evaluation," Superintendent Jacob said. "I want to thank the Capitol Police Accreditation Team for all their effort in successfully navigating us through both processes and ensuring that all of the hard work of the Capitol Police was put forward for evaluation."
The Pennsylvania Capitol Police will begin accepting applications from applicants with Act 120 certification in early September. The department's Recruit Program will reopen early next year. For more information, visit www.employment.pa.gov/capitolpolice.

MEDIA CONTACT: Eric Veronikis, DGS, [email protected]  

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