Amtrak begins the next step in the process to achieve accreditation for its Police Department with an on-site assessment conducted by a team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc. (CALEA).

Verification by the team that the Amtrak Police Department meets the Commission’s state-of-the-art standards is part of a voluntary process to gain CALEA accreditation — a highly valued recognition of public safety professional excellence.

The team of assessors made up of law enforcement practitioners from similar, but out-of-state agencies will evaluate all aspects of the Amtrak Police Department’s policies and procedures, management, operations and support services. The assessors will review written materials, interview individuals, and visit offices and other locations where compliance can be witnessed.

The Amtrak Police Department must comply with 463 standards in order to gain accredited status. Accreditation will place the Department among a select few professional law enforcement agencies recognized by CALEA and peer institutions.

Once the CALEA assessors complete their review of the agency, they will report back to the full Commission, which will then decide if the agency is to be granted accredited status.

Accreditation is for three years, during which time the agency must submit annual reports attesting continued compliance with those standards under which it was initially accredited.