WPD Transitions to New Accreditation Organization

Published on April 01, 2026

To attain broader, nationally recognized law enforcement accreditation, the Winchester Police Department will pursue accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). Formerly, the Department sought accreditation through the Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission (VLEPSC).

CALEA’s accreditation process is considered the “gold standard” in law enforcement and is better aligned with the Department’s Strategic Plan. Specifically, the CALEA accreditation will strengthen our agency through:

Adherence to national best practices
Improved risk management and reduced liability
Implementation of stringent operational standards
Stronger accountability and continuous improvement
Increased professionalism and public trust

To facilitate the pending CALEA accreditation process, the Department is hiring an experienced Accreditation Manager. As always, the Department will remain legally compliant and committed to providing the highest level of service to our community.

You can learn more about CALEA here: https://www.calea.org/.