Mayor Derek Easterling and Kennesaw Police Chief Bill Westenberger hold CALEA certificate (photo courtesy of City of Kennesaw)
The Kennesaw Police Department was re-accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA®), the major accrediting organization for law enforcement agencies nationally.
“Not every department qualifies for the CALEA standard,” said Mayor Derek Easterling. “For our police department to qualify for the fifth consecutive time is an outstanding achievement in and of itself. It also speaks to the leadership of Chief Bill Westenberger, the performance of our officers and the successes found in community-based policing.”
The public information release from the City of Kennesaw stated:
“CALEA encourages law enforcement agencies to adhere to strict best practices, guidelines and procedures. This includes safety initiatives, crime prevention, the establishment of fair and nondiscriminatory personnel practices and consistent efforts toward building community confidence in local police departments.
“During CALEA assessments, law enforcement agencies present “proofs of compliance,” which demonstrate the approximate 500 standards that must be maintained.
“Accreditation is reviewed annually with a full re-accreditation assessment every four years. This re-accreditation marks the fifth consecutive for the Kennesaw Police Department.”
About CALEA
The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) was formed in 1979 by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the National Association of Black Law Enforcement Executives, the National Sheriffs’ Association, and the Police Executive Research Forum.
CALEA is an internationally-recognized and respected credentialing authority that has developed professional standards for policing and public safety.
Law enforcement agencies must comply with 459 applicable “state-of-the-art” standards in four basic areas—policy and procedures, administration, operations, and support services.
About the City of Kennesaw
The City of Kennesaw was incorporated in 1887. With a population of 33,036 according to the recent decennial census, Kennesaw is the fourth-largest city in Cobb County, behind Mableton, Marietta and Smyrna. The US Census Bureau provides the following quick facts about the city:
| Population Estimates, July 1 2022, (V2022) | NA |
| Population Estimates, July 1 2021, (V2021) | 33,049 |
| Population | |
| Population Estimates, July 1 2022, (V2022) | NA |
| Population Estimates, July 1 2021, (V2021) | 33,049 |
| Population estimates base, April 1, 2020, (V2022) | NA |
| Population estimates base, April 1, 2020, (V2021) | 33,001 |
| Population, percent change – April 1, 2020 (estimates base) to July 1, 2022, (V2022) | NA |
| Population, percent change – April 1, 2020 (estimates base) to July 1, 2021, (V2021) | 0.1% |
| Population, Census, April 1, 2020 | 33,036 |
| Population, Census, April 1, 2010 | 29,783 |
| Age and Sex | |
| Persons under 5 years, percent | 6.0% |
| Persons under 18 years, percent | 22.3% |
| Persons 65 years and over, percent | 11.8% |
| Female persons, percent | 52.3% |
| Race and Hispanic Origin | |
| White alone, percent | 64.0% |
| Black or African American alone, percent(a) | 20.5% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, percent(a) | 0.0% |
| Asian alone, percent(a) | 5.7% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, percent(a) | 0.0% |
| Two or More Races, percent | 6.7% |
| Hispanic or Latino, percent(b) | 14.9% |
| White alone, not Hispanic or Latino, percent | 55.7% |
| Population Characteristics | |
| Veterans, 2017-2021 | 2,071 |
| Foreign born persons, percent, 2017-2021 | 14.9% |
| Housing | |
| Housing units, July 1, 2021, (V2021) | X |
| Owner-occupied housing unit rate, 2017-2021 | 68.8% |
| Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2017-2021 | $225,500 |
| Median selected monthly owner costs -with a mortgage, 2017-2021 | $1,600 |
| Median selected monthly owner costs -without a mortgage, 2017-2021 | $434 |
| Median gross rent, 2017-2021 | $1,470 |
| Building permits, 2021 | X |
| Families & Living Arrangements | |
| Households, 2017-2021 | 12,799 |
| Persons per household, 2017-2021 | 2.57 |
| Living in same house 1 year ago, percent of persons age 1 year+, 2017-2021 | 82.9% |
| Language other than English spoken at home, percent of persons age 5 years+, 2017-2021 | 21.8% |
| Computer and Internet Use | |
| Households with a computer, percent, 2017-2021 | 97.1% |
| Households with a broadband Internet subscription, percent, 2017-2021 | 95.8% |
| Education | |
| High school graduate or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2017-2021 | 93.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2017-2021 | 44.7% |
| Health | |
| With a disability, under age 65 years, percent, 2017-2021 | 5.9% |
| Persons without health insurance, under age 65 years, percent | 14.2% |
| Economy | |
| In civilian labor force, total, percent of population age 16 years+, 2017-2021 | 70.6% |
| In civilian labor force, female, percent of population age 16 years+, 2017-2021 | 67.4% |
| Total accommodation and food services sales, 2017 ($1,000)(c) | 188,701 |
| Total health care and social assistance receipts/revenue, 2017 ($1,000)(c) | 142,150 |
| Total transportation and warehousing receipts/revenue, 2017 ($1,000)(c) | 99,548 |
| Total retail sales, 2017 ($1,000)(c) | 1,186,810 |
| Total retail sales per capita, 2017(c) | $34,676 |
| Transportation | |
| Mean travel time to work (minutes), workers age 16 years+, 2017-2021 | 31.5 |
| Income & Poverty | |
| Median household income (in 2021 dollars), 2017-2021 | $73,977 |
| Per capita income in past 12 months (in 2021 dollars), 2017-2021 | $37,608 |
| Persons in poverty, percent | 13.5% |
| Businesses | |
| Total employer establishments, 2020 | X |
| Total employment, 2020 | X |
| Total annual payroll, 2020 ($1,000) | X |
| Total employment, percent change, 2019-2020 | X |
| Total nonemployer establishments, 2019 | X |
| All employer firms, Reference year 2017 | 1,282 |
| Men-owned employer firms, Reference year 2017 | 665 |
| Women-owned employer firms, Reference year 2017 | 296 |
| Minority-owned employer firms, Reference year 2017 | S |
| Nonminority-owned employer firms, Reference year 2017 | 757 |
| Veteran-owned employer firms, Reference year 2017 | 54 |
| Nonveteran-owned employer firms, Reference year 2017 | 972 |
| Geography | |
| Population per square mile, 2020 | 3,400.2 |
| Population per square mile, 2010 | 3,155.1 |
| Land area in square miles, 2020 | 9.72 |
| Land area in square miles, 2010 | 9.44 |
| FIPS Code | 1343192 |
