National law enforcement accreditation
The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA).
The CALEA accreditation applies to all functions of the BCA. The agency pursued accreditation as part of its effort to promote consistency, transparency and accountability in its work.
Becoming a CALEA-accredited agency is a voluntary process. It requires:
- Comprehensive and uniform written directives that clearly define authority, performance and responsibilities
- Reports and analyses to make fact-based and informed management decisions
- Preparedness to address natural or man-made critical incidents
- Community relationship-building and maintenance
- Independent review by subject matter experts
- Continuous pursuit of excellence through annual reviews and other assessment measures
The BCA achieved CALEA accreditation in 2026. It is currently the only CALEA-accredited law enforcement agency in Minnesota. Nationally, fewer than 6-percent of law enforcement agencies have received CALEA accreditation. Once earned, CALEA requires accreditation standards to be regularly maintained.
Learn more about CALEA
CALEA was established in 1979 to set professional standards for police agencies. It was created by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, National Sheriffs' Association and the Police Executive Research Forum.
Learn more about CALEA on the CALEA website.
