A team of from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA ®) will examine all aspects of the Columbia Police Department’s (CPD) policy and procedures, management, operations, and support services from October 18 – 20, 2021.
CALEA will determine if CPD will maintain its status as an internationally accredited law enforcement agency; a highly-prized recognition of public safety professional excellence. Accreditation status is a four (4) year term, during which time CPD has submitted annual reports and participated in annual remote web-based assessments attesting continued compliance with the 459 CALEA standards.
During Police Chief W. H. “Skip” Holbrook’s tenure, CPD has maintained its accreditation since 2017. Obtaining international law enforcement accreditation demonstrates the police department maintains high professional standards in providing law enforcement services.
As part of the assessment, agency personnel and members of the community are invited to offer comments at a virtual public information session on October 19, 2021.
The session will begin at 6:00 p.m. and end after the last speaker is heard. Due to COVID-19 protocols, the session will be conducted via ZOOM. Please email Felicia Prince-Heath at [email protected] if you would like to participate in the virtual public information session.
If you would like to speak at the session but are unable to do so and would still like to provide comments to the assessment team, you may do so by telephone.
The public may call (803) 545-3936 on October 19, 2021, between the hours of 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Telephone comments as well as appearances at the virtual public information session are limited to ten (10) minutes and must address the department’s ability to comply with CALEA© Standards.
A copy of the standards is available at the Columbia Police Department. Please email Felicia Prince-Heath at [email protected] for a time and date to come to CPD and review the standards.
Any person wishing to offer written comments about the CPD’s ability to meet the standards for accreditation are requested to write to the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement, Inc. (CALEA ®), 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320 Gainesville, Virginia 20155.
For more information regarding the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. please write the Commission at 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320 Gainesville, Virginia 20155; or call (703) 352-4225 or email [email protected].