LCPD Receives Prestigious CALEA Accreditation

The Las Cruces Police Department has earned prestigious accreditation from CALEA – the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies – as one of the few police departments nationally with policies that adhere to the highest standards in the profession.

CALEA accreditation is considered the gold standard in public safety. Fewer than 5% of law enforcement agencies nationwide have achieved accreditation from CALEA.

LCPD received official notification of its accreditation on July 25, 2026, during CALEA’s summer conference in Omaha, Neb. The accreditation is a four-year endorsement.

“CALEA accreditation reflects our unwavering commitment to professionalism, accountability, and continuous improvement,” said Jeremy Story, Chief of the Las Cruces Police Department. “This recognition is not the result of a single assessment. It is the product of the dedication our officers and professional staff demonstrate every day in serving the Las Cruces community.

“While this achievement is something to celebrate, we view it as another milestone in our ongoing pursuit of being faithful public servants to Las Cruces.”

CALEA accreditation means the Las Cruces Police Department has demonstrated that it has comprehensive policies in place and approved practices that support transparent and accountable operations. The accreditation demonstrates that LCPD is committed to safeguards that ensure it is serving the community with professionalism and integrity.

As part of the accreditation process, the Las Cruces Police Department revised a large portion of its policy manual and added new policies that adhere to best practices in law enforcement. Accreditation includes thorough off-site and on-site assessments as part of the process.

Each agency under review appears for a hearing, and thorough review of all findings and documentation, before selected members of CALEA’s 21-member Board of Commissioners. The hearing decision is then passed on to the entire board where they concur or dissent on the findings. The board voted unanimously in LCPD’s favor.

Accreditation is endorsed by CALEA for four years and requires proof of four consecutive years of continuous compliance.

The Las Cruces Police Department joins the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office, Farmington Police Department, Los Alamos County Police Department and New Mexico State Police as the only CALEA accredited law enforcement agencies in New Mexico.

CALEA is an independent credentialing authority created in 1979 by the four major law enforcement membership associations: the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, the National Sheriff’s Association and the Police Executive Research Forum.