New CALEA Logo Signifies Strong Support of Agencies and Communities

To underscore its unwavering commitment to client agencies and respect for the communities they serve, CALEA recently redesigned its organizational logo. The new logo incorporates an inverted gold pyramid, and emphasizes the view that broad-based community and client agency constituents reside at the top of the pyramid.

Conversely, CALEA is positioned at the inverse apex, and represents a foundation of support, guidance and stewardship in the constant pursuit of public safety excellence and the gold standard in accreditation.

CALEA Likes the Benefits of
Social Networking Sites

Social networks enable the creation of relationships across a very broad spectrum of audiences, and law enforcement's use of social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter continues to intensify and grow. Law enforcement agencies and others in the public safety sector increasingly turn to social networks to enhance and supplement communication with their constituents; helping to optimize performance and service in public safety and reduce and prevent crime in communities across the nation and around the globe. This summer CALEA will jump on the social networking bandwagon by launching sites on Facebook and Twitter to foster collaboration and communications within its global public safety network.

From national organizations such as the FBI to CALEA-affiliated accreditation coalitions, Facebook and other social networking sites are proving to be beneficial through the sharing of useful information, data, ideas and best practices in public safety. In speaking with our clients and other constituents in public safety, CALEA has surmised that sites on Facebook and Twitter will prove to be an important communications channel for our Commissioners, staff, clients, PAC's and other key influencers in law enforcement, communications, training academies, campus security, municipal government and the insurance sector.

CALEA has created a useful, entertaining and engaging Facebook site that includes: updates on pertinent breaking news concerning public safety; a forum for discussion of relevant public safety issues and trends; storytelling (anecdotes) about the difference CALEA can make by ensuring excellence in public safety; research, surveys and polling of constituents; photos of CALEA standards in practice; educational and training videos; clarification of existing and new CALEA programs and infrastructure (i.e., benefits of new regional structure and tiered accreditation program); and a calendar of CALEA conferences, webinars and other events. 

The kickoff of CALEA's social networking sites will be orchestrated through our Website (www.CALEA.org) and via email blasts to our client agencies, PAC's, organizations and institutions. Specifically, we will soon invite all CALEA constituents to participate in a national contest that solicits stories and photos, which articulate "The CALEA Difference" (the difference CALEA has made to client agencies). The grand prize will be a [one-time] waiver of registration fees to a future CALEA Conference. Other prizes will include merchandise from CALEA's online store such as caps, t-shirts, coffee mugs, and other CALEA-branded items. 

CALEA will also launch a Twitter site this summer,enabling access to a micro-blogging service and to send and receive text-based posts (Tweets) of up to 140 characters, which will be displayed on our Twitter profile page. The text-based posts will generally supplement and complement content found on CALEA's Website and Facebook page. Initially, Twitter, like Facebook, will be promoted on the home page of CALEA's Website, and within a relatively short time we anticipate a synergistic relationship between our Website and social network sites. 

We encourage the development of social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter under CALEA's global banner and will provide suggested policy and guidelines as a resource to our affiliated PAC's to ensure a collaborative environment and coordinated communications process that is beneficial to all. Clarity of process and discipline regarding how social networks should and should not be used will further stimulate and encourage social networking within the extended CALEA family. 

See you on Facebook and Twitter, soon!