CALEA Assessment Team Hosts SU Police Public Information Session July 19

SALISBURY, MD---A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) will arrive in mid-July to examine all aspects of the Salisbury University Police Department in four basic areas: policy and procedures, administration, operations and support services, Chief Edwin Lashley announced.

Verification by the team that University Police meets the commission’s state-of-the-art standards is part of a voluntary compliance process for a police agency to gain accreditation and recognition of public safety professional excellence.

As part of the on-site assessment, agency personnel and community members are invited to offer comments at a public information session 5 p.m. Tuesday, July 19, in Perdue Hall Room 156. Those who cannot attend the session but would like to provide comments to the assessment team may call 410-543-6001 from 1-3 p.m. that day.

Telephone comments as well as appearances at the public 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 University Police, located in the East Campus Complex. The local contact is Lt. Sandra Bradley, accreditation manager, at 410-543-6517.

Anyone wishing to offer written comments about the department’s ability to meet standards for accreditation is asked to write: Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., 13575 Heathcote Blvd., Suite 320, Gainesville, VA 20155.  

The accreditation assessment team is comprised of law enforcement practitioners from similar, out-of-state agencies. The team leader is Chief Mark Brooks (Ret.) of the Marion Police Department, Marion, NC. Also visiting is Commander Ernest Knight, University of Chicago Police Department, a member of the team.

The assessors will review written materials, interview individuals and visit departments and other places where compliance may be observed. After completing their review, they will report their findings to the full commission, which will decide if the agency is to achieve continued accreditation status.

Accreditation will continue for four years. During that time, University Police will submit annual reports attesting to and verifying its compliance with CALEA standards, under which it was initially accredited.

For more information regarding CALEA and its programs, visit www.calea.org.

For more information about SU call 410-543-6030 or visit the SU website at www.salisbury.edu.