PA Capitol Police Receive National Advanced Law Enforcement Reaccreditation

HARRISBURG, Pa., Sept. 23, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Pennsylvania Capitol Police recently received its national Advanced Law Enforcement Reaccreditation through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, or CALEA, state General Services Secretary Sheri Phillips announced today.

"It is an honor for the PA Capitol Police to receive this reaccreditation, as it is recognition of the fine job they do on a daily basis to ensure the safety and well-being of workers and visitors to state buildings," Phillips said. "This reaccreditation shows how dedicated our police force is to continually improving service and professionalism."

CALEA was created in 1979 as a credentialing authority through the joint efforts of law enforcement's major executive associations. CALEA accreditation is renewed every three years with a goal to improve the delivery of public safety services, primarily 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 Pennsylvania Capitol Police Department received its initial accreditation in 2007 and was reaccredited in 2010. Earlier in 2013, CALEA conducted an on-site reassessment to determine whether the force's status would remain in compliance with the commission's standards.

"We've been making a deliberate effort to improve the overall quality of the PA Capitol Police from our officers' interaction with the public, to the continuous training and education they receive," Capitol Police Superintendent Joseph Jacob said. "We want the PA Capitol Police to be viewed as a resource that is not just used for responding to emergency situations, but one that can help other people be better prepared to handle emergency situations as well."

Jacob pointed to the Active Shooter training being offered to state employees for dealing with hostile and crisis situations, as well as the basic Self-Defense training as part of the force's efforts to improve the delivery of service and their mission to protect and serve the safety of state buildings.

The Pennsylvania Capitol Police is an accredited law enforcement agency with full arrest powers that investigates all reported crimes within its jurisdiction of state-owned properties and buildings in Harrisburg, Philadelphia and Scranton. The force maintains a 24 hours a day/7 days a week presence in Harrisburg where they also provide assistance to the city of Harrisburg Police Department and other surrounding local law enforcement agencies.

Media contact: Troy Thompson, 717-787-3197

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of General Services