Public input sought on police accreditation starting Aug. 2

Posted 7/16/15

On Sunday, Aug. 2 a team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) will arrive at the Warwick Police Department to examine all aspects of the …

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Public input sought on police accreditation starting Aug. 2

Posted

On Sunday, Aug. 2 a team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) will arrive at the Warwick Police Department to examine all aspects of the agency’s policies and procedures, management, operations and support services. The Warwick Police Department’s last such assessment was conducted in August 2012, after which it was awarded re-accredited status.

Verification by the assessment team that the Warwick Police Department meets the commission’s state-of-the-art standards is part of a voluntary process to gain re-accreditation, a highly prized recognition of public safety professional excellence, according to a release issued by the city administration this week.

As part of the on-site assessment, agency personnel and members of the community are invited to offer comments at a public information session to be held on Monday, Aug. 3 at 6 p.m. The session will be held in the Community Room located in the Warwick Police Department, 99 Veterans Memorial Drive.

If for some reason individuals cannot speak at the public information session but would still like to provide comments to the assessment team, they may do so by telephone. The public may call 468-4328 on Tuesday, Aug. 4 between the hours of 3 p.m. and 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. Copies of the CALEA Standards are available for review at the Warwick Police Department. Questions concerning compliance with any of the standards may be directed to the agency accreditation manager, Sergeant Joseph Petrarca, 468-4330.

Persons wishing to offer written comments about the Warwick Police Department’s ability to meet the standards for accreditation may write to Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), 13575 Heathcote Blvd, Suite 320, Gainesville, VA, 20155 or email calea@calea.org.

The CALEA program manager for the Warwick Police Department is Paul MacMillan. 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 Deputy Chief Terry Clanton of the Kannapolis Police Dept., Kannapolis, North Carolina and Ms. Pamela McKay, accreditation manager for the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, Leonardtown, Maryland. Once the assessors complete their review of the agency, they will report back to the full commission, which will then decide if the agency is to be granted re-accredited status.

Accreditation recognition previously lasted for three years; however, a newly implemented process will now require re-accreditation every four years. The agency must submit annual reports attesting continued compliance with those standards under which it was initially accredited.

“I am very proud of the men and women of our police department, whose continued commitment to excellence, professionalism and service have earned them CALEA’s re-accreditation for nearly 18 years,” said Mayor Scott Avedisian in a statement. “The site visit is an important part of the evaluation process, and the input of our residents and those in our business community is welcomed and appreciated. I encourage people to attend the informational public hearing or, alternatively, to share their thoughts with the assessment team by phone or email. The perspective of those who live and work in Warwick will certainly help to provide the team with further insight into the caliber of those who so proudly serve our community.”

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

 

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