The Lexington County Sheriff’s Department has received its seventh Law Enforcement Accreditation Award from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc., commonly known as CALEA.
“A team of specially trained CALEA assessors visited the department for a four-day, on-site assessment in July,” Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon said. “The team reviewed our policies, went on ride-alongs and interviewed deputies, staff, community leaders and citizens to determine we’re maintaining high professional standards in providing professional law enforcement services.”
CALEA reviews more than 480 rigorous accreditation standards in the areas of policies and procedures, administration, operations and support services, according to Koon. The Lexington County Sheriff’s Department has maintained its accreditation since 1999, earning CALEA’s Meritorious Award during this most recent reaccreditation.
“I’m proud for the men and women of this department because maintaining accreditation for nearly two decades is quite an accomplishment,” said Koon, who formally accepted the accreditation award last month. “Professional excellence is a top priority for us and compliance with CALEA’s standards has become a part of our everyday operations.”
Lexington County is one of only nine accredited sheriff’s departments in South Carolina, according to CALEA. The others are Anderson, Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Greenville, Lancaster, Spartanburg and York.