How Do You Assess Atlanta Police?

From the Atlanta Police Department:

A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc. — CALEA — will be in Atlanta Nov. 17-20, 2013, to examine all aspects of the Atlanta Police Department policy and procedures, management, operations, and support services. Verification by the team that the Atlanta 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.

As a part of the assessment, agency personnel and members of the community are invited to offer comments at a public information session on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2013, at 7 p.m. The session will be conducted in the City Council Chambers located in City Hall, 55 Trinity Ave. SW.

If for some reason an individual cannot speak at the public information session but would still like to provide comments to the assessment team, they may do so by telephone. The public may call 404.444.1225 on Monday, Nov. 18, 2013, 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 Public Safety Headquarters, 226 Peachtree Street, SW, Atlanta, Georgia  30303.  Local contact is Lieut. S. Steed, 404.546.2623.

Persons wishing to offer written comments about the Atlanta Police Department’s ability to meet the standards for accreditation are requested to write: Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement, Inc., 13575 Heathcote Blvd, Suite 320, Gainesville, Va. 20155.

The Atlanta Police Department has to comply with 482 standards in order to gain accredited status. 

“Accreditation by CALEA is vital to maintaining the public trust and assuring our many stakeholders that we are abiding by the highest standards set for professional law enforcement agencies,” said Chief George N. Turner. “We are proud of our CALEA accreditation and look forward to re-certification.”

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, 703.352.4225 or e-mail calea@calea.org.