Lake Area Tech Law Enforcement Program Earns International Accreditation

November 30, 2020

WATERTOWN, SD – The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA^®) has awarded Public Safety Training Academy Accreditation to the Law Enforcement program at Lake Area Technical College. CALEA^® accreditation serves as the International Gold Standard for Public Safety Agencies.

“Being CALEA^® accredited means our students are graduating from a program that provides training using the highest standards in safety and professional excellence,” said Lake Area Tech Law Enforcement Program Supervisor Asa Stiles. “There are only a handful of programs in the country that have international accreditation in public safety training therefore, the communities in which the Lake Area Tech Law Enforcement graduates serve will greatly benefit.”

Lake Area Tech’s Law Enforcement faculty completed a rigorous two-year program self-assessment, which required a review of policies, practices, and processes against internationally accepted public safety standards. That procedure was followed by a program assessment, conducted by independent assessors with significant public safety experience. After a public hearing and a review of all reporting documentation, accreditation was then rendered by a governing body of 21 commissioners.

CALEA^® accreditation is a continuous process during which annual assessments will transpire until the site-based review occurs in July 2024. For more information on CALEA^® accreditation standards, please visit www.calea.org.