SAN ANGELO, Texas — The San Angelo Police Department announced Monday it received the Accredited Law Enforcement Agency award from the Texas Police Chiefs Association's Law Enforcement Accreditation Program in January 2024.
The accreditation program, which started in 2006, evaluates a police department’s compliance with more than 170 best practices for Texas law enforcement. Texas law enforcement professionals developed the best practices to help agencies in the efficient and effective delivery of service and the protection of individual rights.
The best practices cover all law enforcement operations, including using force, protecting citizen rights, vehicle pursuits, property, evidence management and patrol and investigative operations.
The SAPD was initially accredited by the program in 2008. Police agencies accredited by the TPCA are required to undergo an onsite inspection every fourth year, making the fourth successful onsite inspection by the SAPD.
Texas has approximately 2,800 law enforcement agencies and only 210 are accredited by this program. The voluntary process required the SAPD to conduct a critical self-review of the agency’s policies, procedures, facilities and operations. Beginning in May 2007, the SAPD started the lengthy process of becoming an “accredited law enforcement agency” by preparing proofs of compliance for each of the Texas law enforcement best practices.
An outside audit and review were requested upon completion of the internal review. The final on-site review took place in 2008, conducted by trained police chiefs from other areas of Texas. The result of the review was then sent to the TPCA’s accreditation committee for final analysis and decision to award “accredited” status.
On Jan. 25, 2008, the SAPD was notified it had been awarded the coveted award.
The SAPD became the fourth agency in the state to be accredited through the program.
A release from the department said, "The San Angelo Police Department has always considered itself one of the best in the state. This process provided for an independent review of the department’s operations. It should assure the citizens of San Angelo that its Police Department is conforming to the current state of the art in law enforcement."
For more information about the program, click here.
