A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. will arrive Dec. 12, to examine all aspects of the Chattanooga Police Department's policy and procedures, management, operations, and support services, Chief of Police Freeman Cooper announced Thursday.
Verification by the team that the Chattanooga Police Department meets the Commission's state-of-the-art standards is part of a voluntary process to gain reaccreditation - 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 on Dec.14, at 5 p.m. The session will be conducted in the Chattanooga City Council Chambers located at 1000 Lindsay St.
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 643-5017 on Dec. 14, between the hours of 2-4 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 for review at the Police Service Center located at 3300 Amnicola Highway. The local contact is Lon Eilders at 643-5143.
Persons wishing to offer written comments about the Chattanooga Police Department's ability to meet the standards for reaccreditation are requested to write Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), 10302 Eaton Place, Suite 100, Fairfax, Virginia, 22030-2215.
The Chattanooga Police Department has to comply with 460 standards in order to gain accredited status. Chief Freeman Cooper said, “Accreditation has provided the perfect vehicle for ensuring the department achieves the professional recognition that its members and the community so richly deserves.”
The accreditation program manager for the Chattanooga Police Department is Mr. Lon Eilders. He said the assessment team is composed of law enforcement practitioners from similar but out-of-state agencies. The assessors will review materials, interview individuals, and visit offices and other places where compliance can be witnessed. The assessors are Chief James Fox of the Newport News Police Department, at 9710 Jefferson Avenue, Newport News, Virginia, 23605; and Captain Keith King, of the North Carolina DMV License and Theft Bureau, located at 1100 New Bern Avenue, Raleigh, North Carolina, 27697.
“Once the Commission's assessors complete their review of the department, they report back to the full Commission, which will then decide if the department is to be granted accredited status,” said Mr. Eilders.
Accreditation is for three years, during which the department 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 10302 Eaton Place, Suite 100, Fairfax, Virginia, 22030-2215: call (800) 368-3757 or (703) 352-4225; or via internet at www.CALEA.org.