David J. Mara, Chief of Police, is pleased to announce that a team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) will arrive Sunday, January 8, 2012 to examine all aspects of the Manchester Police Department’s policies, procedures, management, operations and support services.
This assessment will be the sixth re-accreditation after initial accreditation status was achieved in early 1990. A team of two assessors, composed of law enforcement practitioners from similar agencies around the nation, will once again verify nationally recognized, state of the art standards which the department has maintained over the past 20 years, as part of this voluntary process. Chief Mara says; “achieving and maintaining national accreditation is a highly established accomplishment and recognition of professionalism for Law Enforcement agencies; the Manchester Police Department is extremely proud to be placed in such high regard within the law enforcement field.” Assessors will review written materials, interview individuals, and visit offices and others where compliance can be verified. Assessors report to the Commission, who makes final determination on re-accreditation. The Manchester Police Department has to comply with 415 standards in order to gain accredited status. 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 re-accreditation.
The CALEA assessors are:
Team Leader: Captain (Retired) Christine Crocker from the Cumberland, RI Police Department.
Assessor: Colonel (Retired) Mary Ann Viverette from the Gaithersburg, MD Police Department.
As part of the process, the Manchester community, department employees, as well as any member of the general public is invited to comment on the agencies compliance with standards by phone or by appearance at a public hearing session. Phone calls can be made to (603) 628-6111 and will be taken by assessors on Monday January 9, 2012 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Telephone calls will go directly to the assessors and will be on an unrecorded line.
The public hearing will be held that evening at 7:00 PM at the Three Rivers Auditorium, PSNH Energy Park located at 780 North Commercial Street, in Manchester.
Telephone comments as well as appearances at the public information session are limited to 10 minutes and must address the department’s ability to comply with CALEA standards. A copy of the standards is available at the Manchester Police Department. Inquiries should be directed to Accreditation Manager Gregory Murphy at 668-8711, Ext. 314.
Persons wishing to submit written comments about the Manchester Police Departments ability to comply with the standards for accreditation may send them to the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement, Inc. (CALEA), 13375 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320, Gainesville, Virginia 20155 or www.calea.org.
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 13375 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320, Gainesville, Virginia 20155; or call (703) 352-4225 or email calea@calea.org.