ACCREDITATION ASSESSMENT TEAM INVITES

PUBLIC COMMENT

A team of national assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) will arrive on Saturday, August 11, 2012 to examine all aspects of the Greenville Police Department’s policy and procedures, management, operations, and support services, Interim Chief Joe Bartlett announced today.

Verification by the team that Greenville Police Department meets the Commission’s professional standards is part of a voluntary process to gain accreditation, considered a high recognition of law enforcement professional excellence.  The Greenville Police Department first received its accredited status in November of 1995 and has been successful in maintaining the high expectations and identified professional standards since that time.  The Department must be assessed every three years and is now up for its fifth reaccreditation assessment.

As part of the on-site assessment, agency employees and members of the community are invited to offer comments at a public information session on Monday, August 13, 2012 at 7:00 PM. The session will be conducted in the first floor training rooms at the Greenville Police Department located at 500 S Greene 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 (252) 329-4595 on Sunday, August 12, 2012 between the hours of 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM.

Telephone comments as well as appearances at the public information session are limited to 10 minutes and must address the agency’s ability to comply with CALEA’s standards.

A copy of the standards is available at the Greenville Police Department. The local contact is Corporal Cathy Williams, Accreditation Manager, 252-329-4835.

Persons wishing to offer written comments about the Greenville Police Department’s ability to meet the standards for accreditation are requested to write: Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), 13575 Heathecote Blvd., Ste. 320 Gainesville, VA 20155

The Accreditation Program Manager for Greenville Police Department is Corporal Cathy Williams. She said the Assessment Team is composed of law enforcement professionals from out-of-state agencies that are usually similar in size to the agency they are assessing. The assessors will review written materials, interview individuals, and visit offices and other places where compliance can be witnessed.

The assessors are: Chief Michael Dickey of the Fairfield, Ohio Police Department and Commander Melvin Lange of the North Palm Beach, Florida Department of Public Safety. Once the Commission’s assessors complete their review of the agency, a full written report will be sent to the Commission. Members of the Commission will then decide if the agency is to be granted re-accredited status.

Accreditation is for three years, during which the agency must submit annual reports attesting continued compliance with those standards under which it was initially accredited.

For more information regarding the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., please write the Commission at 13575 Heathecote Blvd., Ste. 320 Gainesville, VA 20155; or call (800) 368-3757.