PHOENIX, AZ (December 16, 2010) – Thanks to excellent policy development and flawless file maintenance, the Investigations Division of the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office has been named a Flagship Agency by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA^®). Flagship Agencies are agencies deemed to have demonstrated success in CALEA’s accreditation process and are held up as a model for other law enforcement entities seeking “best practices” on achieving CALEA compliance.

The Investigations Division is currently the only law enforcement agency in Arizona to earn this designation, which will remain in effect for three years.

“I am proud of the hard work and operational excellence exhibited by our Investigations Division,” remarked Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery. “The exemplary performance of this division in complying with CALEA’s rigorous standards underscores the high level of professionalism this office strives to achieve in everything we do for the citizens of Maricopa County,” he added.

CALEA’s accreditation process is designed to improve the delivery of public safety services, primarily by maintaining a body of standards covering initiatives ranging from recruitment and selection to property and evidence. A CALEA Assessment Team inspected the Investigations Division over a three day period earlier this year and verified the division’s continued compliance with required CALEA standards. None of the division’s files were returned for correction and no new policies were required to be written to bring the division into compliance.

CALEA was created in 1979 as a credentialing authority through the joint efforts of major law enforcement executive associations. Once implemented, the CALEA accreditation process provides a CEO with well thought-out written directives, reports and analysis to make informed management decisions that promote efficient use of resources, improved service delivery, strong community relations and agency accountability.

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