Police ask for public comment
Posted on:
Tuesday, November 24, 2009 - 2:46pm
The Berlin Police Accreditation Assessment Team Invites Public Comment Dec. 7
A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement
Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), will arrive Dec. 5 to examine all aspects of
the Berlin Police Department’s policy and procedures, management, operations and
support services, Chief Paul Fitzgerald announced today.
Verification by the team that the Berlin 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, Fitzgerald 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 Monday Dec. 7
at 7:00 p.m.. The session will be conducted in the town council
chambers on the third floor of the Berlin Town Hall. Town Hall is located at 240
Kensington Road, Berlin, Connecticut. 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 (860) 828-7102 on Monday Dec. 7 between the hours of 1:30 p.m.
and 3:30 PM.
Telephone comments as well as appearances at the public information are limited
to ten minutes and must address the agency's ability to comply with CALEA's
standards. A copy of the standards is available at the Berlin Police
Department. The Accreditation Manager for the Berlin Police Department is
Lieutenant Chris Ciuci assisted by Sergeant Mike Jobes. They can be reached at
(860) 828-7080.
Persons wishing to offer written comments about the Berlin Police Department's
ability to meet the standards for accreditation are requested to write:
Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), 10302
Eaton Place, Suite 100, Fairfax, Virginia, 22030-2115.
The Berlin Police Department has to comply with 309 of the applicable mandatory
standards and at least 80% of the non-mandatory standards in order to gain
accredited status, Chief Fitzgerald said. The department is currently in
compliance with all 309 mandatory standards and 74 of the 82 non-mandatory
standards or 90%. The Berlin Police Department has been an internationally
accredited agency since 1996 and is now seeking its fourth re-accreditation.
To receive accredited status by the Commission on Accreditation for Law
Enforcement Agencies is an important achievement for our department, Chief
Fitzgerald said. Accreditation requires us to develop comprehensive, well
thought out, and uniform set of policies and procedures. This is one of the most
successful methods for reaching administrative and operational goals, while also
providing direction to our personnel. Accreditation also limits the department’s
liability and risk exposure because it demonstrates that internationally
recognized standards for law enforcement have been met and verified by a team of
independent outside CALEA-trained assessors. Accreditation also facilitates our
pursuit of professional excellence.
The CALEA Program Manager for the Berlin Police Department is Stephen
Mitchell. He said that 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:
Deputy Chief David Belmonte (Team Leader)
Lake Bluff Police Department
45 East Center Avenue
Lake Bluff, IL 60044
Commander Cynthia Aaron
Burleson Police Department
225 W. Renfro Street
Burleson, TX 76028-4296
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, Mr. Stephen Mitchell stated.
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 10302 Eaton Place,
Suite 100, Fairfax, Virginia, 22030-2215; or call (800) 368-3757 or (703) 352
4225 or email calea@calea.org.
PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER CONTACT:
Deputy Chief John Klett
240 Kensington Road
Berlin, CT 06037
(860) 828-7080
For full details, go to http://local.nixle.com/alert/367826/
Contact Information:
Chris Ciuci
Support Services
860-828-7080 berlinpd@gmail.com
