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Wilmington Mayor John Carney and Police Chief Wilfredo Campos today announced that the Wilmington Police Department has achieved reaccreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). WPD is one of 706 law enforcement agencies – out of a total of nearly 18,000 – in the United States to earn this recognition, as well as one of a small number of agencies to achieve and maintain Advanced Law Enforcement Accreditation.
 
"This accreditation reflects the standard of service and professionalism that the Wilmington Police Department maintains each year," said Mayor John Carney. "Congratulations to Chief Campos and his team on achieving this distinction. We owe a debt of gratitude to our law enforcement officers for their dedication to our community."
 
According to CALEA, “Accreditation represents your agency’s acceptance of the continuous obligation for professional excellence in the field of public safety.”
 
“We are proud to announce our reaccreditation, and thank the assessment team that visited our agency earlier this year for their time and effort in ensuring that our agency remains compliant with CALEA standards,” said Chief Campos. “Our continued accreditation marks our adherence to national best practices for law enforcement agencies, as well as the high quality of service that our sworn officers and professional staff provide to residents and visitors of Wilmington.”
 
The WPD again achieved Advanced Law Enforcement Accreditation, which according to the organization, “provides agencies an opportunity to go beyond the implementation of basic best practices. Advanced Law Enforcement Accreditation is available for agencies having enough human and fiscal resources to consistently exceed basic service delivery. Advanced accreditation provides agencies additional means to verify accountability to those expecting and relying upon the highest level of public safety services.”
 
The Wilmington Police Department was first accredited in 1994, and has been reaccredited in 1999, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2011, 2014, 2017, 2021 and 2025.
 
Earlier this year, a team of assessors completed a three-day on-site assessment, during which they examined the department’s policies and procedures, management, operations and support services. The purpose of the assessment, which takes place every four years, was to determine if the agency meets all applicable standards required by the Commission in order for the agency’s accreditation to be renewed.
 
You can learn more about CALEA by visiting the organization’s website at www.CALEA.org.