The La Plata Police Department has earned national accreditation for the third consecutive cycle, a credential held by only a small fraction of law enforcement agencies nationwide — and one that’s notable here given the department’s size.
What the department earned
The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) granted La Plata Police its reaccreditation on July 25, following a multi-year self-assessment process. CALEA, established in 1979 through a partnership of four major law enforcement associations, requires agencies to meet hundreds of professional standards covering use-of-force policy, records management and community engagement. Roughly 4% of the nation’s approximately 18,000 law enforcement agencies hold CALEA accreditation at any given time.
A small department clearing a big bar
La Plata Police first earned CALEA accreditation in 2018, followed by reaccreditation in 2022 and now again in 2026, with the next full assessment scheduled for 2030. According to the Southern Maryland Chronicle, La Plata is Maryland’s smallest law enforcement agency to hold CALEA accreditation. The department serves a town of roughly 10,000 residents — Charles County’s seat — but must meet the same documentation and policy requirements as agencies many times its size, meaning the compliance workload lands proportionally heavier on a smaller staff.
What the chief said
Police Chief Matthew Norris framed the accreditation as more than a milestone. "CALEA accreditation is not simply an award earned every few years; it is an operational roadmap that guides every aspect of our organization," Norris said.
Who’s credited with the work
The department singled out Accreditation Manager Jacquelyn DeSoto and Major Michael Payne for their roles across multiple accreditation cycles, reflecting the sustained, multi-year effort the credential requires to earn and maintain.
Reporting based on coverage from the Southern Maryland Chronicle. Only one source outlet had reported this story at publication time.
For more information on how to become a community contributor to the Charles County Journal and provide stories on local community resources, events, and more learn more.
