Professionalism
Professionalism
The Garden City Police Department is a State Certified and Nationally Accredited agency.
National Accreditation
In November 2003 the Garden City Police Department was Nationally Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc (CALEA). Garden City was one of only twenty city police departments in the State of Georgia to possess this prestigious award.
Three assessors from across the United States came to Garden City to evaluate the agency and its practices in detail. A report was then submitted to the
commission who, by unanimous vote, awarded Garden City Police Department with National Accreditation.
To be awarded National Accreditation is more than accepting an award; it is making a commitment to continual compliance with the highest standards of service. These standards increase agency performance, establish accountability throughout the department, and expand community advocacy.
Formed in 1979 by the International Association of chiefs of Police (IACP), National Sheriff’s Association (NSA), National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), And the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), CALEA was tasked to establish a set of standards directing law enforcement services. The standards were designed to increase professionalism in law enforcement and meet the ever-changing needs of our society.
Since the initial accreditation in 2003, the Garden City Police Department has maintained reaccreditation status confirmed by on-site assessments in 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, and 2019. We are currently one of only 43 police departments Nationally accredited in Georgia. Our next re-accreditation assessment is scheduled for 2023. For more information on National Accreditation, please visit the CALEA website at www.calea.org.
State Certification
In July 2003 the Garden City Police Department was State Certified by the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police (GACP). Similar to National Accreditation, State Certification is a program designed to improve the administrative practices of the department and strengthen the service delivery to the community.
Originally developed in the mid 1990's by several state agencies and organizations, the State Certification program was designed to provide a professional development program for departments who did not have the resources to pursue national accreditation. Like Accreditation, the Garden City Police Department is required to maintain continued compliance with the standards set forth by the State Certification Committee.
As with the National accreditation process, the Garden City Police Department has consistently maintained State re-certification status confirmed by on-site assessments in 2005, 2008, 2011, 2014, 2017, and 2020. The Department is scheduled for recertification again in 2023.
Currently there are only 140 law enforcement agencies that are state certified. Garden City Police Department is one of only 37 law enforcement agencies that are both Nationally (CALEA) accredited and state certified in Georgia. For more information on the State Certification Program please visit the GACP website at www.gachiefs.com.