Bloomington Police Awarded CALEA Reaccreditation

On July 25th, 2026, the Bloomington Police Department (BPD) was awarded full Tier 1  accreditation status through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement  Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) for the third time. This award will remain in effect for four  years and the Bloomington Police Department will retain all privileges associated with  being a CALEA accredited agency during that time period. BPD was first awarded full  Tier 1 law enforcement accreditation in July of 2018. CALEA accreditation is considered  the gold standard in law enforcement accreditation and embodies the precepts of  community-oriented policing. Of the approximate 18,000 law enforcement agencies in  the United States, only approximately 5% are CALEA accredited.  

“The Bloomington Police Department is dedicated to providing competent and  professional policing services to everyone in the Bloomington community,” said Chief  Michael Diekhoff. “Our accreditation through CALEA ensures that we remain at the  forefront of modern policing and utilize the very best policies and procedures to protect  those we serve.” 

The process of CALEA accreditation is very lengthy and requires a review of all  Department policies, practices, and processes to ensure that they are in compliance with  over 180 CALEA standards. These standards are internationally accepted public safety  principles that are reviewed annually by public safety professionals and subject matter  experts. Independent assessors reviewed all documentation provided by BPD, as well as 

sought public feedback and conducted structured interviews with agency personnel and  community stakeholders to assess the Department’s effectiveness and overall service  delivery capacities. A final report was then compiled by the independent assessors and  submitted to a governing body of twenty-one CALEA Commissioners for consideration  following a public hearing and review. This review took place in Omaha, Nebraska on  July 24th with the Commissioners voting to award the full Tier 1 accreditation on July  25th.  

"Earning CALEA accreditation is a significant achievement,” said Mayor Kerry  Thomson. “Earning it for a third consecutive cycle reflects a sustained commitment to  excellence by our Bloomington Police Department. This reaccreditation demonstrates  that the Department continues to meet rigorous, nationally recognized standards while  continually looking for ways to learn, grow, and improve. I am grateful to the officers  and professional staff whose dedication and service made this recognition possible. Their  work helps strengthen the foundation of a thriving Bloomington where everyone has a  place to belong."