Anchorage Airport Police & Fire Receive Approval for Advance Accreditation

Oct. 17, 2016

The Anchorage Airport Police & Fire Department has been accepted by the Commission on Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) for self-assessment and future accreditation. Chief Jesse Davis announced that the Airport Police department has begun a two-year journey towards international accreditation.

“Rigid self-assessment and consistent movement towards CALEA accreditation confirms our commitment in maintaining the professionalism and standard of excellence that our airport, community and the state of Alaska expects and that we expect of ourselves”. Chief Davis stated; he added that, “holding accreditation is important and difficult to achieve. It involves validating 189 standards and when concluded, it recognizes our agency as the very best. It says that we hold ourselves accountable to the community. Opening ourselves up to an independent outside review is an exciting opportunity to demonstrate our commitment towards constant improvement. It’s a win-win for us and our customers.”

CALEA accreditation is a voluntary process that requires a tedious self-assessment of the department's written policies, procedures and operational protocols across the full spectrum of departmental activities and areas of responsibility. CALEA accreditation can take several years and on completion of the self-assessment, CALEA's assessment team will conduct an independent, in-depth on-site review. Accreditation occurs only after CALEA'S independent review, hearings, and public commentary. Once accredited, the department must maintain the stringent standards set forth by CALEA and seek recertification every three years.

When the Anchorage Airport Police department successfully completes this task, it will be the Gold Standard in Public Safety. Currently, the city of Fairbanks Police Department (FPD) is the only other agency in Alaska to take on this endeavor. FPD enrolled in June of 2015 and they expect their on-site assessment as early as late 2017.