(Columbia, S.C.) On February 27, 2017, the Columbia Police Department (CPD) will host a team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA®) to examine all aspects of the department’s operations, policy and procedures, management and support services.
The CALEA Accreditation Assessment Team will verify that the CPD meets the Commission’s state-of-the-art standards as 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 employees and members of the community are invited to offer comments at a public information session Tuesday, February 28, 2017 at 6:00 p.m. The session will be conducted at CPD Headquarters in the Multi-Purpose Room, 1 Justice Square.
Individuals that cannot attend the public information session and want to provide comments to the assessment team may call (803) 545-3534 on Tuesday, February 28, 2017 between the hours of 2:00 and 4:00 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 for viewing by contacting Accreditation Manager Felicia Prince-Heath at (803) 545-3500.
The City of Columbia Police Department has to comply with standards in four (4) major areas in order to gain accredited status,” said Chief Holbrook. “By openly entering this process, the agency confirms its commitment to transparency and its acceptance to scrutiny of our policies, procedures, operations, management, and the services we provide to the citizens of Columbia”.
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.
The assessors are: Team Leader, Deputy Chief William Dean, Virginia Beach Police Department, Virginia Beach, VA. and Deputy Chief Donald Gasparini, Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office, Rockford, IL.
Accreditation is for four 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 CALEA, please call (703) 352-4225 or write the Commission at:
Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc.
3575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320
Gainesville, Virginia, 22030-2215