BUCKHANNON, WV — The Buckhannon Police Department attained accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies officially Thursday, July 15.

The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA®), was created in 1979 as a credentialing authority through the joint efforts of law enforcement’s major executive associations. The CALEA Accreditation program seals are reserved for use by those public safety agencies that have demonstrated compliance with CALEA Standards and have been awarded CALEA Accreditation by the Commission.

In July of 2017, Chief Gregory began exploring the CALEA Accreditation program and what it would mean to the Buckhannon Police Department. The Department officially signed on to the program in April of 2018 and began the extensive work towards accreditation.

Thursday, July 15, 2021, Chief Matthew Gregory joined law enforcement agencies from across the United States on a Zoom call with the CALEA Administrators to learn if his department would be awarded the accreditation. Not only did the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies representatives vote unanimously to award the Buckhannon Police Department CALEA Accreditation, but they did also so without conditions of any kind, which is even more impressive.

Congratulations Chief Gregory and the Buckhannon Police Department! Read more about Gregory’s thoughts on the milestone here.