Portsmouth Police Department receives CALEA advanced accreditation

The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) presented the Portsmouth Police Department with its law-enforcement advanced accreditation certificate during the City Council meeting.

A CALEA representative said assessors reviewed the department’s files and operations against 462 standards and that the commission voted to grant advanced accreditation at its August 2025 meeting. Chief Steven Jenkins accepted the certificate on behalf of the department, thanked accreditation manager Tanya Hopkins and department staff, and described the recognition as a milestone that will help position the department to improve further.

"A lot of hard work has gone on behind the scenes for a number of years to get us to this point," Jenkins said. "This is a milestone that we are looking for to help propel us into the best police department in the state of Virginia." He added that the work of accreditation is ongoing and that the department will continue efforts to improve.

Mayor Glover and council members congratulated the department at the meeting. The CALEA representative said the accreditation is effective August 2025 and will remain in effect for four years, consistent with CALEA practice. Council did not take formal action on this presentation; it was recognized as a public acknowledgement and ceremonial item.

Council members and staff emphasized the local significance of voluntary accreditation as a tool to strengthen policies, improve interagency coordination and increase community confidence in policing.