Maryland’s Natural Resources Police has enrolled in a rigorous, roughly three-year accreditation process that only about 5% of U.S. police agencies ever complete, the Department of Natural Resources announced.
NRP’s enrollment in the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies’ (CALEA) Law Enforcement Accreditation Program kicks off a comprehensive review of the agency’s policies, procedures, training, operations, and management practices. CALEA accreditation — often called the international gold standard for public safety agencies — has been awarded to roughly 1,000 of the nation’s 18,000 police agencies. By pursuing it, NRP becomes just the second state conservation law enforcement agency in the country to seek the distinction, joining a list of already-accredited Maryland agencies that includes the Maryland State Police, Maryland Transportation Authority Police, and the police departments of Montgomery, Anne Arundel, Howard, and Baltimore counties.
“Pursuing CALEA accreditation is an important step in our continued commitment to professionalism and service to the people of Maryland,” said NRP Superintendent Col. Orlando D. Lilly. “This process gives us an opportunity to sharpen our procedures agency-wide in an effort to better protect people, communities, and the natural resources of Maryland.”
The move follows a leadership restructuring NRP made just weeks earlier. In early August, Lilly promoted Major Christopher Morris to Assistant Superintendent and Commander of the agency’s Executive Services Bureau, a role specifically tasked with overseeing strategic planning, accreditation, and policy — suggesting the CALEA push had been in the works before this month’s formal announcement.
Lilly, a former Baltimore County Police major and Navy veteran, has led NRP since April 2024 as its 11th superintendent. The agency itself dates to 1868, making it one of the oldest conservation law enforcement bodies in the country; it now fields roughly 269 sworn officers and 78 civilian employees responsible for enforcing laws across Maryland’s public lands and waterways, protecting fish and wildlife, and leading search-and-rescue operations statewide.
CALEA President Col. Matthew Packard called NRP’s decision a clear investment in accountability. “By voluntarily pursuing accreditation, the Maryland Natural Resources Police is making a clear investment in accountability, transparency, employee safety, and quality service to the communities and natural resources it is entrusted to protect,” Packard said.
Agencies pursuing CALEA accreditation must meet or exceed standards covering management practices, reporting and analysis, critical incident preparedness, and community relationships. The program accepts specialized agencies, including fish and game and park law enforcement bodies, alongside traditional police departments. NRP’s enrollment is voluntary and doesn’t itself guarantee accreditation; the agency will undergo yearly appraisals and assessments throughout the process until accreditation is formally awarded.
