(COLUMBUS, Ohio) -- Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced today that the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) and Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA) have both been reaccredited under the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies' (CALEA) new Gold Standard Assessment process.
The Gold Standard accreditation is an in-depth assessment available only to select agencies that have shown a commitment to the law enforcement accreditation process and that voluntarily request an increased level of outside scrutiny as a means for further self-improvement.
"This national accreditation recognizes our passion for excellence in providing our local law enforcement partners with the highest levels of services and training," said Attorney General DeWine. "These assessments were conducted at the highest levels of accountability, and I am proud that both BCI and OPOTA earned every award for which they were eligible."
OPOTA is the first law enforcement training facility in the United States to receive the Gold Standard accreditation.
Both BCI and OPOTA also received the Accreditation with Excellence Award, which is given only to law enforcement agencies that are found to go above and beyond the minimum requirements for accreditation and achieve an outstanding on-site assessment.
In addition, BCI received the Advanced Accreditation designation and the Meritorious Award. The Meritorious Award is reserved for agencies maintaining 15 or more years of accredited status.
Accreditation through CALEA is voluntary process that occurs every three years.
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Media Contacts:
Dan Tierney: 614-466-3840
Jill Del Greco: 614-466-3840