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