Accreditation Assessment Team Invites Public Comment
Staunton, Virginia, April 19, 2007- A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) will arrive April 21, 2007, to examine all aspects of the Staunton Police Department’s policy and procedures, management, operations, and support services, J.E. Williams, Chief of Police announced today.
Verification by the team that the Staunton Police Department meets the Commission’s state-of–the-art standards is part of a voluntary process to gain accreditation- a highly prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence, he said.
As part of the on-site assessment, agency employees and members of the community are invited to offer comments at a public information session April 23, 2007 at 7:00 P.M. The session will be conducted in the Staunton City Council Chambers located at Staunton City Hall, 116 West Beverley Street.
If for some reason an individual cannot speak at the public information session but would still like to provide comments to the assessment team, he/she may do so by telephone. The public may call (540) 332-3911 on April 23, 2007 between the hours of 2:00 P.M. and 4:00 P.M.
Telephone comments as well as appearances at the public information session are limited to ten minutes and must address the agency’s ability to comply with CALEA’s standards. A copy of the standards is available at the Staunton Police Department. Local contact is Captain L.A. Miller, 332-3845.
Persons wishing to offer written comments about the Staunton Police Department’s ability to meet the standards for accreditation are requested to write: Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), 10302 Eaton Place, Suite 100, Fairfax, Virginia, 22030-2215.
The Staunton Police Department has to comply with 446 standards in order to gain accredited status, Chief Williams said. The Accreditation Manager for the Staunton Police Department is Captain L.A. Miller. She said the assessment team is composed of law enforcement practitioners from similar, but out-of-state agencies. The assessors will review written materials; interview individuals; and visit offices and other places where compliance can be witnessed. The assessors are: Mr. Lloyd Coward, Jr., Metropolitan DC Police Department (Retired), team leader; Mr. Richard R. Bens, Lebanon Division of Police, Lebanon, OH; and Mr. Steven O. Lewis, Chesterfield Police Department, Chesterfield, Missouri, Once the Commission’s assessors complete their review of the agency, they report back to the full Commission, which will then decide if the agency is to be granted accredited status, Captain Miller stated.
Accreditation is for three years, during which time the agency must submit annual reports attesting continued compliance with those standards under which they were initially accredited.
For more information regarding the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., please write the Commission at 10302 Eaton Place, Suite 100, Fairfax, Virginia, 22030-2215; or call (800) 368-3757.
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