“To date, only 17% of U.S. law enforcement agencies have earned CALEA accreditation,” said Union Pacific Chief of Police Bob Morrison. “CALEA is a systematic process that internally reviews and assesses policies and procedures to meet internationally accepted standards. Since the first CALEA Accreditation Award granted in 1984, the program has become the primary method to voluntarily demonstrate a commitment to excellence in law enforcement. During the three-year CALEA process, the Union Pacific Police and Security team was required to meet 188 standards.
“The CALEA accreditation process allowed us to reflect on and strengthen departmental processes. Adherence to nearly 190 standards requires a steadfast commitment to continuous improvement and operational excellence. We are proud to earn CALEA accreditation and remain dedicated to the highest standard in public safety as we protect the Union Pacific rail network.”
UP’s railroad police force was formed in the mid-1800s when the number of U.S. Marshals was deemed insufficient to guard America’s growing rail system. Today, Union Pacific employs more than 200 special agents who have primary jurisdiction over crimes committed against the railroad with responsibilty for all UP locations across the railroad’s 32,000 miles of track in 23 states.
CALEA was established in 1979 as a result of combined efforts of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), National Organization of Black Law Enforcement (NOBLE), National Sheriffs' Association (NSA), and the Police Executive Research Fund (PERF) to establish a law enforcement credentialing authority. The reaccreditation process repeats after three years, pending another successful on-site assessment and hearing before the Commission.