For the first time in the history of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, the Law Enforcement Division has received accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA).

The accreditation certificate was awarded to Sheriff Luttrell, members of his command staff and the Sheriff’s Office Accreditation & Policy Bureau at a ceremony this past Saturday evening in Atlanta, Georgia. The historic milestone was the culmination of almost four years of preparation by employees in the Sheriff’s Office Law Enforcement and Administrative Divisions.

“We voluntarily applied for Accreditation, which signifies our desire for the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office to be part of an elite group of law enforcement agencies. To accomplish this, 459 rigorous standards were met which demonstrate our use of the latest and most up-to-date procedures to keep Deputies and the public as safe as possible,” said Sheriff Luttrell.

Last December, examiners with CALEA spent four days visiting various Sheriff’s Office bureaus examining policies, procedures, management practices, operations, and support services.

The review team was comprised of three former and current law enforcement officers:

• Lieutenant Colonel Darrel Stilwell (retired) Virginia State Police (Team Leader)
• Inspector Clyde Hedrick, Manatee County Florida Sheriff’s Office
• Commander Michael Nolan, Clark County Washington Sheriff’s Office

“The CALEA team unanimously voted to accredit the Sheriff’s Office. Our receiving this designation has provided both our staff and the citizens we serve with a renewed sense of confidence that the Sheriff’s Office Law Enforcement Division is one of the best in the nation,” said Chief Deputy William P. Oldham.

The accreditation certificate is valid for three years, during which the Sheriff’s Office must submit annual reports to document continued compliance with the 459 law enforcement CALEA standards.

The Shelby County Jail men and women divisions received Accreditation certificates during the past two years from the American Corrections Association. The ACA, similar to CALEA, requires agencies to meet hundreds of security and safety standards. The Accreditation designations for the Shelby County Jail facilities were the first ever in the history of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.