Accreditation Assessment Team Invites Public Comment

 “A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), will arrive December 9th,  2012, to examine all aspects of the Lake Zurich Police Department policy and procedures, management, operations, and support services”, Chief Patrick Finlon announced today.

“Verification by the team that the Lake Zurich 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 December 10, 2012 at 5:30 p.m.  The session will be conducted in the Community Room located on the Main Level of the Lake Zurich Police Department, 200 Mohawk Trail,  Lake Zurich, Illinois 60047

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 number (847) 307-4602 on December 10, 2012 between the hours of 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM.

Telephone comments as well as appearances at the public information session are limited to 10 minutes and must address the agencies ability to comply with CALEA’s standards.  A copy of the standards is available at the Lake Zurich Police Department.  Local contact is Deputy Chief Kevin Finlon, (847) 719-1690 ext. #6118.

Persons wishing to offer written comments about the Lake Zurich Police Department’s ability to meet with the standards for accreditation are requested to write: Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320, Gainesville, Virginia, 20155.

“The Lake Zurich Police Department has to comply with 463 standards in order to gain accredited status”, Chief Patrick Finlon said.  “Accreditation provides our organization with a sense of accomplishment and validates the methods in which we provide services to the community.”

The CALEA Program Manager for the Lake Zurich Police Department is Karen Shepherd, who 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 Chief Bruce Robertson

Centerville Police Department, OH

            Team member Frances Moore

Greenville Police Department, SC

“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”, Shepherd said.

Accreditation 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 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320, Gainesville, VA 20155; or call (800)368-3757 or (703)352-4225 or email calea@calea.org.

This news release was submitted by the Lake Zurich Police Department.