As part of a national re-accreditation process for the Edmonds Police Department, citizens are invited to offer comments about the department at a meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, April 28 in the Edmonds City Council Chambers, 250 Fifth Ave. N.
A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), will arrive April 26 to examine all aspects of police department policy and procedures, management, operations, and support services, said Chief David Stern.
Verification by the team that the Edmonds Police Department meets the Commission’s state-of-the art national standards is part of a voluntary process to gain re-accreditation, a highly prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence, Stern said.
As part of the on-site assessment, agency employees and members of the community are invited to offer comments at the meeting.
Anyone who cannot speak at the public information session but would still like to provide comments to the assessment team may do so by telephone. The public may call 206-369-8579 between 1 and 5 p.m Sunday, April 27.
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’s standards. A copy of the standards is available at the front counter of the police department.
Persons wishing to offer written comments about the Edmonds Police Department’s ability to meet the national standards for accreditation are requested to write to the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), 10302 Eaton Place, Suite 100, Fairfax, Virginia, 22030-2215.
The Edmonds Police Department has to comply with 424 standards to gain re-accredited status, Stern said.
Sgt. Jeff Jones serves as the Accreditation Program Manager for the Edmonds Police Department. He said the assessment team is composed of law enforcement practitioners from similar, but out-of-state agencies. The assessors will review written materials, interview individuals, and visit offices and other places where compliance can be witnessed.
Once the commission’s assessors complete their review of the department, they report back to the full commission, which will then decide if the agency is to be re-accredited, Jones said.
National Accreditation is for three years, during which the agency must submit annual reports attesting to continued compliance with those standards under which it was initially accredited. The Edmonds Police Department was first accredited in 1999.
For more information regarding the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. write the Commission at 10302 Eaton Place, Suite 100, Fairfax, Virginia, 22030-2215; or call 800-368-3757.
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