05/29/2026
May 28, 2026, in front of the Parsons City Commission the Parsons Police Department was able to announce that it has officially achieved accreditation through the Kansas Law Enforcement Accreditation Program (KLEAP), marking a major milestone in the department’s ongoing commitment to professional excellence, accountability, and service to the community. The award was presented to Parsons Police Chief Robert Spinks by Chief Buck Buchanan of the Andover Police Department. Chief Buchanan is also the KLEAP Chairman of the Board.
The accreditation process is a comprehensive and rigorous evaluation designed to ensure that law enforcement agencies meet the highest professional standards in policy development, operational procedures, training, accountability, and community engagement. Agencies pursuing accreditation must demonstrate compliance with 167 best-practice standards and undergo extensive internal review and independent assessment.
For the Parsons Police Department, achieving KLEAP accreditation represents years of work focused on strengthening policies, enhancing training programs, and ensuring the department operates according to the most current and effective standards in modern policing.
“This achievement represents a tremendous amount of work and dedication by our entire department,” said Robert Spinks, one of the founding contributors to the Kansas Law Enforcement Accreditation Program. “KLEAP was created to help Kansas law enforcement agencies demonstrate professionalism, accountability, and transparency. To see our own department complete the process and meet those standards is incredibly rewarding. It shows our officers, our city leadership, and our community that we are committed to doing things the right way.”
Chief Spinks emphasized that accreditation is not a one-time accomplishment, but an ongoing commitment to excellence, “Accreditation requires agencies to continually evaluate their policies, training, and operations,” Spinks added. “It ensures that we are constantly improving and adapting to the evolving needs of the communities we serve. The citizens of Parsons deserve a police department that operates at the highest professional standard, and accreditation helps ensure we meet that expectation.”
The accreditation effort was overseen internally by Mark Raney, who guided the department through the extensive evaluation process required to achieve certification, with significant assistance from Accreditation Manager Cortney Jarman. Cortney’s work coordinating documentation, policy compliance, and accreditation materials proved critical to the department’s achievement.
“The Parsons Police Department demonstrated exceptional dedication throughout this process,” Raney said. “Accreditation requires an agency to closely examine every aspect of its operations, from training and use-of-force policies to evidence handling, supervision, and community engagement. The teamwork in the Parsons Police Department showed a clear commitment to meeting those standards and building a strong foundation for professional policing.”
Chief Spinks praised Jarman’s efforts and dedication, “Cortney Jarman’s work ethic and commitment to this project cannot be overstated,” Spinks said. “The accreditation process requires thousands of pages of documentation, detailed policy review, and careful coordination across the department. Cortney spent countless hours ensuring that every standard was met and every requirement was documented. Her dedication played a major role in making this achievement possible.”
Kansas Law Enforcement Accreditation Program (KLEAP) demonstrates a commitment to nationally recognized best practices in law enforcement operations. These standards enhance officer safety, strengthen policy compliance, reduce liability risks, and promote greater transparency and trust within the community.
The Parsons Police Department’s achievement is particularly significant. According to the KLEAP Accreditation Committee, Parsons is only the second agency in Kansas to attain KLEAP accreditation without first holding dual accreditation status with the National Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), 14 other agencies hold this dual accreditation status in Kansas. The Olathe Police Department was the first KLEAP only agency to reach this milestone, followed by Parsons.
For smaller agencies, state accreditation is a substantial and demanding undertaking. The process requires hundreds of staff hours dedicated to aligning departmental policies with established standards, compiling documentation, and providing verifiable proof of compliance. The Parsons Police Department’s success reflects a deep organizational commitment to professionalism, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Accredited agencies also benefit from stronger operational consistency, improved training programs, and enhanced documentation procedures that protect both officers and the communities they serve.
For the City of Parsons, accreditation represents a significant investment in professional public safety services. Accreditation helps ensure that policies governing areas such as use of force, pursuit operations, evidence handling, detainee care, and training meet established best practices recognized throughout the law enforcement profession. These standards provide additional safeguards for both citizens and officers while helping the department operate with greater efficiency and accountability.
Additionally, accredited agencies are better positioned to reduce risk and protect their municipalities from potential litigation by demonstrating compliance with professionally recognized policies and procedures.
“This accomplishment reflects the dedication of every member of our department,” Chief Spinks said. “From patrol officers and supervisors to administrative staff and command staff, everyone played a role in reaching this milestone. Accreditation confirms what we have always believed, that the Parsons Police Department is committed to professional policing and providing the best possible service to our community.”
The Parsons Police Department will continue to maintain its accredited status through regular compliance reviews and future reaccreditation processes. The current accreditation period runs through 2030. These ongoing evaluations ensure that the department continues to meet evolving professional standards and maintains the high level of service expected by the community. Department leadership also emphasized that accreditation strengthens the partnership between the police department and the community it serves. By meeting the standards established through KLEAP, the Parsons Police Department demonstrates transparency, accountability, and a commitment to continuous improvement, principles that build public trust and reinforce the department’s core values of Pride, Professionalism and Dedication.
For more information about the Parsons Police Department and its programs, visit parsonspdks.gov.
