Manassas police receive CALEA advanced accreditation; department and officers honored

The Manassas City Police Department received advanced accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) and presented multiple internal and external awards at the Feb. 11 council meeting.

Chief Douglas W. Keene and CALEA representative Craig Hardly announced the department’s advanced accreditation certificate, citing the agency’s voluntary commitment to professional standards and continuous improvement. CALEA noted only about 7% of U.S. law enforcement agencies hold accreditation and praised Manassas for its sustained engagement.

Council and police leaders also recognized staff with awards from the Virginia Attorney General’s office and department honors: Master Police Officer Shawna Moore received an attorney general award for community policing work; Master Police Officer Kintelli Gaines received the Sergeant John Connor Memorial Award and was recognized for surveillance and arrests that led to recovery of a firearm and key arrests; Master Police Officer Christopher Daniels was named field training officer of the year after training multiple recruits; and Lieutenant Gio Barahona graduated from the FBI National Academy. Captain Trey Lawler and Chief Keene described the programs and their community focus, including mental‑health interventions, school partnerships and community engagement efforts.

Chief Keene thanked department staff and family members during the recognition. Council recessed briefly after the presentations for photos and acknowledged the department’s role in public safety and community trust.