The city of Richmond Heights sent out the following announcement, inviting public comment on its police department, as part of an accreditation process.
A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA®), will arrive June 8 to re-examine all aspects of the Richmond Heights Police Department policy and procedures, management, operations, and support services.
Verification by the team that the Richmond Heights Police Department remains in compliance with 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.
[selfie]
As part of the on-site assessment, agency personnel and members of the community are invited to offer comments at a public information session June 9 at 7 p.m. The session will be conducted at The Heights Community Center, 8001 Dale Ave., Richmond Heights, MO.
If an individual cannot speak at the public information session, but would like to provide comments to the assessment team, he/she may do so by telephone. The public may call 314-645-0404 ext. 1220 between the hours of 1 and 3 p.m. on June 9.
Telephone comments as well as appearances at the public information session are limited to 10 minutes and must address the agency’s ability to maintain compliance with CALEA Standards. A copy of the standards is available at the Richmond Heights Police station. Local contact is Captain Douglas W. Schaeffler at 314-655-3633.
Persons wishing to offer written comments about the Richmond Heights Police Department’s ability to maintain compliance with the standards for re-accreditation are requested to write: Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement, Inc. (CALEA®), 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320, Gainesville, VA. 20155.
The CALEA Program Manager for the Richmond Heights Police Department is Captain Douglas W. Schaeffler. The assessment team is composed of public safety practitioners from similar, but out-of-state agencies. The assessors will review written materials, interview individuals, and visit offices and other locations where compliance can be witnessed.
Once the CALEA Assessors complete their review of the agency, they report back to the full Commission, which will then decide if the agency is to be granted re-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.