KENOSHA, Wis. — The Kenosha Police Department has become one of only a small number of law enforcement agencies in Wisconsin to earn accreditation through the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Accreditation Group, a milestone city officials say reflects years of work reviewing and improving department operations.

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The department announced Monday that it is now the second-largest law enforcement agency in Wisconsin to receive accreditation through WILEAG after a voluntary process that took more than two years to complete. During a three-day on-site assessment in February, assessors reviewed the department’s policies, procedures, facilities, operations, and training standards.

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According to the department, assessors were given unrestricted access to facilities, records, and personnel while evaluating compliance with 262 professional standards modeled after nationally recognized best practices in law enforcement.

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Police Chief Patrick Patton called the accreditation a “significant milestone” in the history of the department.

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“Becoming accredited by WILEAG for the first time marks a significant milestone in the history of our department,” Patton said. “This accreditation demonstrates our unwavering commitment to continuous improvement and transparency.”

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Only about 10% of Wisconsin’s nearly 600 law enforcement agencies have achieved WILEAG accreditation, according to the release.

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The department said assessors interviewed personnel from all ranks and divisions, conducted ride-alongs with officers, reviewed policies and procedures, and gathered feedback from community members and local leaders during the evaluation process.

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Patton also praised the department’s partnership with Joint Services, saying the accreditation effort required coordination across multiple divisions and agencies.

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“This was a huge project that included the coordination of all divisions to accomplish,” Patton said. “The assessment panel was incredibly complimentary of Joint Services.”

The accreditation movement in policing began nationally in 1979 with the establishment of the Commission on Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies, commonly known as CALEA. The Kenosha Police Department said the process is intended to improve accountability, strengthen performance standards, and increase public trust in law enforcement agencies.

The Kenosha Police Department currently employs 222 sworn officers and professional staff members, according to the release.

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