November 30, 2007
A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) will arrive Saturday December 8, 2007 to examine all aspects of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department's policy and procedures, management, operations, and support services. This thorough assessment is part of the process to gain re-accreditation, a highly prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence.
As part of the on-site assessment, agency employees and members of the community are invited to offer comments. There are three opportunities to provide feedback about the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department's ability to meet the standards of accreditation:
Public information session
Tuesday evening December 11, 2007 at 7:00 p.m.
The session will be held in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Headquarters building 601 East 4th Street in Charlotte, N.C.
Call in
704-432-2653
Tuesday, December 11, 2007 between 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Write in
Direct written correspondence to:
Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA)
10302 Eaton Place, Suite 100
Fairfax, Virginia 22030-2215
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 Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, 601 East Trade Street, Charlotte, N.C. The contact person for the Department is Sergeant JD Cox, Accreditation Manager. 704-353-1139.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department has to comply with 750 applicable standards in order to gain accredited status. It first gained accreditation in 2004 and must undergo a re-accreditation process every three years. "The accreditation process has been an excellent process for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department," said Police Chief Darrel Stephens. "It caused us intensively and thoroughly analyze every aspect of our operations, management, and directives to voluntarily meet the established standards. We look forward to our association with those departments that have been awarded this internationally sought after achievement, as recognition of law enforcement professional excellence," he said.
Sergeant Cox is coordinating the assessment team's visit. That 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 locations where compliance can be witnessed. The assessors are: Team Leader Mr. Daniel V. Boring, Culpeper (VA) Police Department (Retired), Ms. Cynthia A. Armour, Rhode Island State Police (Retired) and Mr. William D. Miller, Elgin Police Department (Retired).
Once the Commission's assessors complete their review of the agency, they report back to the full Commission, which will then decide if the department is to be granted 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., contact the Commission at 10302 Eaton Place, Suite 100, Fairfax, Virginia, 22030-2215; or call (800) 368-3757.
