Accreditation team invites public comment as part of SPD assessment

Posted on by Mike Fuhrman

Special to Iredell Free News

A site-based assessment team from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc. (CALEA) will visit on August 2 to examine all aspects of the Statesville Police Department policy and procedures, management, operations, and support services.

Verification by the team that Statesville 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 public safety professional excellence, Chief David Addison said.

As part of the assessment, agency personnel and members of the community are invited to offer comments at a public information session on August 3 from 5 to 7 p.m. The session will be conducted in the Training Room of the Statesville Police Department, located at 330 South Tradd Street, Statesville.

Individuals who cannot speak at the public information session but would still like to provide comments to the assessment team may do so by telephone. The public may call (305) 791-2263 on August 2 from 3 to 5 p.m.

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 Standards. A copy of the standards is available at the Statesville Police Department. The local contact is Sergeant Samantha Lindon at (704) 878-3522.

Persons wishing to offer written comments about the Statesville Police Department’s ability to meet the standards for accreditation are requested to write: Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc., 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320 Gainesville, VA 20155.

The Statesville Police Department must comply with 162 standards in order to gain accredited status.

“Our compliance is important to continue operating at industry standards while improving the quality of life for our citizens,” Addison said. “Accreditation is for four years, during which the agency must submit annual reports, and participate in annual remote web-based assessments attesting continued compliance with those standards under which it was initially accredited.”

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For more information regarding the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc. please write the Commission at 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320 Gainesville, VA 20155; call (703) 352-4225 or email calea@calea.org.