LEAA IS FUNDING AN EFFORT BY FOUR NATIONAL POLICE ORGANIZATIONS (THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE, THE POLICE EXECUTIVE RESEARCH FORUM, THE NATIONAL SHERIFFS' ASSOCIATION, AND THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF BLACK LAW ENFORCEMENT EXECUTIVES) TO DEVISE STANDARDS FOR POLICE DEPARTMENTS. THE ACCREDITATION PROGRAM FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT IS MODELED ON ACCREDITATION PROGRAMS IN HIGHER EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE, AND CORRECTIONS. STANDARDS PROPOSED BY THE GROUP WILL BE PRESENTED TO A NEW COMMISSION ON ACCREDITATION FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. THE STANDARDS WOULD NOT BE FORCED UPON DEPARTMENTS, BUT IT IS ASSUMED THAT IF ENOUGH DEPARTMENTS PARTICIPATE, THERE WILL BE PRESSURE ON BOTH POLICE AND MUNICIPAL AUTHORITIES TO MAKE SURE THEIR DEPARTMENTS GET APPROVAL. THE FOUR ORGANIZATIONS HAVE DIVIDED OR SHARED RESPONSIBILITY FOR STUDY AND EVALUATIONS OF SUCH AREAS AS STANDARDS ON RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION OF OFFICERS, THE ADVISABILITY OF CONSOLIDATION OF POLICE DEPARTMENTS, AND THE USE OF DEADLY FORCE AGAINST CIVILIANS. THERE IS DISAGREEMENT ABOUT THE ADVISABILITY OF REVIEW OF POLICE DEPARTMENTS BY CIVILIAN REVIEW BOARDS, AND SOME OFFICIALS FEAR THAT ACCREDITATION MAY BE USED TO SERVE THE NEEDS AND INTERESTS OF THE POLICE INSTEAD OF THE COMMUNITY. (RFC)