COLUMBUS – The Ohio State Highway Patrol was selected as a Flagship Agency Award recipient and received the Meritorious Award from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) during a recent conference in Nashville, Tenn.

The Patrol was one of nine agencies selected to receive the Flagship Agency Award. The Flagship Agency program was created to acknowledge the achievement and expertise of some of the most successful CALEA-accredited public safety agencies, and also to provide “flagship examples” to assist other agencies.

Flagship Agencies are selected by agency type and program, and based primarily on their past performance. The Patrol has received successful re-accreditation five times since July 1989.

“Verification by CALEA that the Patrol continually meets national standards further illustrates our ongoing commitment to law enforcement excellence,” Colonel Paul McClellan, Patrol superintendent, said. “Through the hard work and dedication of our sworn officers and professional staff we remain ever-committed to our work in ensuring the safety and security of Ohio, and these honors further validate our place as a national law enforcement leader.”

The Meritorious Award was given to the Patrol as recognition of 15 continuous years of successful reaccreditation. The Patrol was originally accredited in 1989 and has been re-accredited in 1994, 1999, 2002, and 2005. Maintaining this status is an ongoing process and requires constant monitoring and updating of policies and procedures to ensure compliance with CALEA standards.

CALEA was established as an independent accrediting authority in 1979 by the four major law enforcement membership associations: International Association of Chiefs of Police; National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives; National Sheriffs' Association; and the Police Executive Research Forum. The Executive Directors of these four associations appoint members to the Commission annually; an endorsement requires a majority vote for each appointment.

# # #

05-193