UP pursues CALEA accreditation for police department

Union Pacific Railroad is seeking public input as it begins an on-site assessment of its police department as part of an effort to gain the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc.'s (CALEA) national accreditation.

CALEA accreditation requires UP's police department to comply with advanced standards in four areas: policy and procedures, management, operations and support services. The accreditation process involves enrollment, self-assessment, on-site assessment, commission review and decision, and maintaining compliance.

"Verification that the Union Pacific Police Department meets the commission's utmost standards is part of a voluntary process to gain accreditation," said Josh Closson, regional director of Union Pacific Police, in a press release. "CALEA accreditation is a prestigious recognition and we invite the public to join us as we work to demonstrate Union Pacific's commitment to excellence in law enforcement."

Last year, the Class I's Response Management Communications Center became one of a few private communications centers to receive CALEA accreditation.

CALEA was established in 1979 through combined efforts by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement, National Sheriffs' Association and the Police Executive Research Fund to establish a law enforcement credentialing authority. Currently, only 17 percent of U.S. law enforcement agencies have earned CALEA accreditation, according to the commission.