Metro News Release

For immediate release: December 6, 2007

Metro Transit Police Department Earns Reaccreditation

The Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD) earned its reaccreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), a national organization that assesses police department policies, procedures and practices. MTPD was also designated a “flagship agency” by the organization and is the first transportation-oriented law enforcement agency to receive this recognition.

MTPD earned its first accreditation in 2001. Reaccreditation status is considered every three years. CALEA accreditation provides professional validation of the outstanding work the department undertakes to serve and protect Metro customers, employees and facilities.

“We are extremely proud to have passed the rigorous requirements of the reaccreditation process,” said MTPD Chief Michael Daly. “It was an intense review of our standard operating procedures and activities. It adds a great measure of pride to know that we stack up favorably with any police force in this country that has undergone this process.”

In August, CALEA dispatched an assessment team to Metro and conducted an on-site review of the MTPD. Law enforcement executives from other police departments reviewed MTPD from top to bottom, looking at standard operating procedures and policies, spending time with officers on patrol, attending roll calls, touring agency facilities, and conducting in-depth interviews. The team also held a public forum.

The “flagship agency” designation acknowledges the achievement and expertise of some of the nation’s most successful CALEA-accredited public safety agencies and serves as a means of offering “flagship examples” of policies and procedures to assist other agencies seeking accreditation. As a flagship agency, MTPD was invited to exhibit at CALEA’s fall conference to present agency materials, discuss issues and offer suggestions and insight on gaining CALEA accreditation.

News release issued at 12:00 am, December 6, 2007.