Excellence in Standards: The Lawrence Kansas Police Department Achieves Dual Accreditation

The Lawrence Kansas Police Department (LKPD) was awarded dual accreditation from both the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) and the Kansas Law Enforcement Accreditation Program (KLEAP).

What Does Dual Accreditation Mean?

Accreditation is not just a title; it is a comprehensive audit of how a police department operates. To earn the status, an agency must meet hundreds of standards that represent the gold standard in modern policing—both nationally/internationally (CALEA) and within the state of Kansas (KLEAP).

The process involves three distinct areas:

1. Policy Excellence: Ensuring the department policies align with the highest legal and ethical standards.
2. Proof of Compliance: Providing documentation and data to show that those policies are actually being followed in the field.
3. External Review: Inviting outside experts to scrutinize every aspect of operations, from evidence handling to use-of-force training.

A Team Effort and a Solid Foundation

Preparing for the complex review process and achieving dual accreditation is not a quick or easy task, “We had an advantage because we had a solid policy already in place,” Deputy Chief Anthony Brixius noted. Because the agency already utilizes a modern policy service, most of their daily operations were already consistent with the required standards.

To tackle the paperwork and data entry required for the final assessment, the department formed an Accreditation Team, which allowed the agency to meet the standards efficiently.

Why It Matters to the Community

Accreditation ensures that:

• The department is following best practices to keep both officers and citizens safe.
• There is a high level of transparency and accountability in how the department is managed.
• The agency remains compliant with the most current Kansas laws and regulations.

It’s confirmation of what Deputy Chief Anthony Brixius says he sees daily, “Accreditation is a testament to the hard work of the men and women of the Lawrence Kansas Police Department and a promise to the community that the people managing their safety take pride in their service.”