The Chesterfield Police Department has maintained its national accreditation for 23 straight years, earning its seventh reaccreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) in July 2026.

The department also retained its Meritorious Agency Award. CALEA reserves that distinction for agencies with 15 or more years of continuous accreditation.

What CALEA accreditation means

CALEA accreditation is voluntary. No department is required to participate. The Chesterfield department chose to enter the process in 2003 and passed on its first attempt.

The program requires compliance with 461 professional standards covering management, operations, and accountability. Rather than dictating specific policies, CALEA's framework requires agencies to develop and document their own procedures that meet nationally recognized best practices.

The city's announcement identified two layers of oversight that keep the accreditation active between reaccreditation cycles. Each year, CALEA conducts an online review of the department's policies and procedures. Every four years, a CALEA assessor visits Chesterfield for an on-site assessment that includes interviewing department leadership, employees, and community partners.

Who manages compliance

Within the department, the Bureau of Administration, under the Division of Operational Support, handles the day-to-day work of maintaining documentation and reviewing policies against CALEA standards. Lt. Michael Ryffel serves as the department's Certified CALEA Accreditation Manager, with Jill Mason serving as Accreditation Manager.

23-year track record

The department first earned accreditation in 2003 and has reaccredited in 2008, 2012, 2015, 2018, 2022, and 2026. That unbroken streak is what qualifies the department for the Meritorious Agency Award, which comes with an enhanced certificate displaying a blue "Meritorious" ribbon.

What this means for residents

CALEA accreditation does not guarantee a department will never face complaints or controversies. What it does signal is that the department submits to an external review cycle, documents its procedures against a national standard, and opens itself to outside assessors who interview staff and community members.

The practical takeaway: Chesterfield's police policies are checked annually by an outside body and verified in person every four years by a CALEA assessor who interviews leadership, rank-and-file officers, and community partners.