The Maplewood Police Department announced on Thursday that the department will be examined for its CALEA accreditation. It earned the accreditation in 2014 after three years of work. The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA®) will arrive Sunday, March 19 to examine all aspects of the Maplewood Police Department’s policies, procedures, operations and support services.
Richmond Heights Police have the accreditation. Brentwood is working toward it and are about a year away, Chief Dan Fitzgerald said.
According to a press release from the department, verification by the assessment team that the Maplewood 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.
As part of the on-site assessment, agency personnel and members of the community are invited to offer comments at a public information session on Monday, March 20 at
5 p.m. in the Maplewood Richmond Heights High School Auditorium, at 7539 Manchester Road.
Anyone who unable to attend the session but wishes to provide comments may call (314) 502-0006 on Monday, March 20 between the hours of 1 p.m. and 3 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 standards. A copy of the standards is available for review at the Maplewood Police Department.
For information regarding the standards or the accreditation process, please contact Accreditation Manager Sergeant Michael Martin at (314) 646-3617.
Persons wishing to offer written comments about the Maplewood Police Department’s ability to meet the standards for accreditation are requested to write the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA®), 10302 Eaton Place, Suite 100, Fairfax, Virginia, 22030-2215.
The Maplewood Police Department has to comply with 189 standards in order to gain accredited status.
The CALEA Accreditation Manager for the Maplewood Police Department is Sergeant Michael Martin. The assessment team is composed of public safety practitioners from similar out-of-state agencies. The assessors will review written material, interview individuals, and visit offices and other locations where compliance can be witnessed.
The assessors conducting the on-site accreditation process are police chiefs from the La Plata Maryland Police Department and the Rapid City South Dakota Police Department.
Once the CALEA Assessors complete their review they will report back to the full Commission, which will then decide if Maplewood Police will continue to be accredited.
Accreditation is valid for four years, during which time 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 10302 Eaton Place, Suite 100, Fairfax, Virginia, 22030-2215; or call (703) 352-4225 or e-mail [email protected]