For release 06/01/07 – A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA®), will arrive on Saturday, June 23, 2007 to examine all aspects of the Canton Police Department’s policy and procedures, management, operations, and support services, Public Safety Director John Santomauro announced today.

Verification by the team that Canton 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 Monday, June 25, 2007 at 7:00 p.m.  The session will be conducted in the Board Meeting Room of the Canton Administration Building, 1150 S. Canton Center Road, in Canton. 

If for some reason an individual cannot speak at the public information session but would still like to provide comments to the assessment team, he/she may do so by telephone.  The public may call (734) 394-5409 on Monday, June 25, 2007 between the hours of 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 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 at the Canton Police Department, 1150 S. Canton Center Road, in Canton.  Local contact is Deputy Chief Alex Wilson, 734/394-5420.

Persons wishing to offer written comments about the Canton Police Department’s ability to meet the standards for accreditation/recognition are requested to write:  Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement, Inc. (CALEA®), 10302 Eaton Place, Suite 100, Fairfax, Virginia, 22030-2215.

The Canton Police Department has to comply with 446 standards in order to gain accredited/recognized status, Santomauro said.  “CALEA has provided our agency numerous benefits from potential control of liability cost, to a stronger defense against litigation.  But more importantly, it has provided the department an in-depth evaluation of our operations through an internationally recognized accreditation program.  This will enhance the operations and the professional image of the department within the Canton Community.”

The CALEA Program Manager for Canton Police Department is Deputy Chief Alex Wilson.  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: Mr. Marlin Price, Southlake, TX Dept. of Public Safety (retired)

Team Members:

Mr. Richard R. Bens, Lebanon, Ohio Police Department
Ms. Denise Linkenhoker, Virginia Tech Police Department

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/recognition status, Deputy Chief Wilson stated.

Accreditation/Recognition is for three 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 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 www.calea.org.
 

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MEDIA CONTACT: Deputy Chief Alex Wilson, 734/394-5420