Representatives of the Commission on Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies visited in August 2008 to review the department's compliance in four categories: policies and procedures, administration, operations, and support services. CALEA executives granted accreditation in December during a meeting in Tulsa, Okla.

As part of the on-site assessment, members of the community were invited to offer comments. Residents may visit the CALEA site for more information about the process.

In November 1984, Sheriff Dick Bowman directed the department to seek professional accreditation to ensure services were delivered to the community in the best way possible. Elkhart County became the first sheriff's department in the coutnry to achieve CALEA recognition.

Elkhart County also is a member of the Indiana Police Accreditation Coalition.