WYOMING, Mich. (WOOD) — Three of the biggest police departments in West Michigan are working to get the gold standard for law enforcement accreditation.
The Grand Rapids Police Department, Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety and Wyoming Department of Public Safety are seeking accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.
CALEA was formed in 1979. Wyoming Department of Public Safety Chief James Carmody explained its creation was the result of national problems with law enforcement and the way police handled events like the civil rights movement and the Vietnam war.
“Cops didn’t do very well, obviously, when you look at the records from back in those days and there were some pretty nasty things that went on,” Carmody said.
It was clear, he continued, that there was a need to professionalize law enforcement. The solution was to create national standards.
Full story: WOOD TV