Accreditation

Benefits

The benefits of accreditation include:

  • Access to the latest methods developed by experts in law enforcement
  • Better internal management practices
  • Controlled liability insurance costs
  • Deterrence against lawsuits and strengthened defense against citizen complaints
  • Greater accountability within the agency
  • Increased community confidence, respect, and advocacy
  • Precise written manual of policies and procedures
  • Promotion of high morale among personnel
  • Support from government officials
CALEA-002

Contact Us

  1. DSC_7202

    Missy Silcox

    Inspector - Public Information Officer
    Email
    Phone: 803-358-1556

Results

These benefits result from a law enforcement agency adhering to the highest level of professional standards in five broad areas:

  • Auxiliary and technical services
  • Law enforcement operations, operational support, and traffic law enforcement
  • Organization, management, and administration of department functions
  • Prisoner and court-related services
  • Roles, responsibilities, and relationships with other agencies

LPD Accreditation History

The Lexington Police Department began its initial pursuit of South Carolina Law Enforcement Association (SCLEA) accreditation in 1998. In 2000, the Commission awarded accredited status to the Department. This process has been repeated every three years with state accreditation re-affirmed continuously since then.

Under Chief Terrence Green, the Lexington Police Department remains fully committed to maintaining the professionalism afforded through accreditation. In addition to maintaining state accreditation, the department was awarded its first award though the Commission on Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) in March of 2009.

Maintaining Compliance and Accreditation

By the Lexington Police Department voluntarily choosing to seek this higher standard of CALEA accreditation, the community can expect and receive a consistently better level of service and accountability from our department.  Accreditation is on a quadrennial cycle, during which the agency must submit to annual audits, attesting continued compliance with those standards under which it was initially accredited.  At the end of the fourth year the department is reviewed on premises by an assessment team to verify that all procedures and standards are being followed and applied in the field.  The assessment team will then send the findings to the CALEA committee for review for re-accreditation.

Questions or concerns about accreditation should be directed to Inspector Missy Silcox (email) in the Office of Professional Standards at 803-358-1556.