Baltimore County, Md. (August 5, 2008) - A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA®), will arrive on August 16 to examine all aspects of the Baltimore County Police Department’s policy and procedures, management, operations and support services, Chief James W. Johnson announced today.
Verification by the team that the Baltimore County 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, he said.
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 August 18 at 7 p.m. The session will be conducted in the Baltimore County Public Safety Building located at 700 E. Joppa Road, Towson, Maryland 21286.
If for some reason 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 410-887-4931 on August 18 between 1 p.m. and 3 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 at the Baltimore County Police Department – Planning and Research Section, 700 E. Joppa Road, Towson, Maryland 21286. Local contact is Captain Lisa Hannon at 410-887-2260.
Persons wishing to offer written comments about the Baltimore County Police Department’s ability to meet the standards for accreditation are requested to write: Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA®), 10302 Eaton Place, Suite 100, Fairfax, Virginia, 22030-2215.
“The Baltimore County Police Department has to comply with 460 standards in order to gain accredited status,” Chief Johnson said. “Maintaining these standards demonstrates the Department’s commitment to professional excellence in providing law enforcement services to all those who live, visit or work in Baltimore County.”
The CALEA Program Manager for the Baltimore County Police Department is Mr. Dennis Hyater. He said 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 Captain (Ret.) Philip J. Patrone, Roanoke County Police Department and Team Members Chief Roy Liddicott, Broward County Florida Sheriff’s Office, Captain Brian Masterson, Alameda County California Sheriff’s Office and Lieutenant Albert Manint, Illinois State Police.
“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 accredited status,” CALEA Program Manager Dennis Hyater stated.
Accreditation is for three years, during which the agency must submit annual reports attesting to 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 (800) 368-3757 or (703) 352-4225 or email calea@calea.org.
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