On December 6, the Federal Way Police Department, lead by Chief Brian J. Wilson, was awarded Re-Accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) after appearing before the Commission in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The Federal Way Police Department received their initial accreditation award in 2002 and was then first reaccredited in 2005.

In order to maintain their accreditation, the department must go through an on-site assessment every three years to determine if they have been in compliance of applicable standards established by the Commission.

In August of this year, CALEA assessors conducted a comprehensive assessment of department practices and forwarded their findings to the Commission.

On December 6, 2008, Chief Wilson and other members of the department appeared before the Commission.

The Commission found the Federal Way Police Department met and/or exceeded the standards set forth by CALEA and received their second re-accreditation award.

In 1979, the Commission was created through the combined efforts of four major law enforcement organizations: the International Association of Chiefs of Police, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, National Sheriff's Association, and the Police Executive Research Forum.

The Commission was formed for two reasons; to develop a set of law enforcement standards and to establish and administer an accreditation process through which law enforcement agencies could demonstrate voluntarily that they meet professionally recognized criteria for excellence in management and service delivery.

Of the approximate 18,000 law enforcement agencies in the United States, less than 3 percent are accredited.