Department of Public Safety News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 01, 2014
Law enforcement agency is seeking full accreditation from Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies
A team of assessors form the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA®) will arrive July 13, 2014 to examine all aspects of Missouri Capitol Police policy and procedures, management, operation, and support services, MCP Chief Todd Hurt announced today. Missouri Capitol Police must comply with 188 standards to gain accredited status. Verification by the team that Missouri Capitol Police meets the commission's state-of-the-art standards is part of a voluntary process to gain full CALEA accreditation, a highly regarded recognition of public safety professional excellence.
As part of the assessment, Capitol Police employees and members of the community are invited to offer comments at a public information session on July 14, 2014 at 10 a.m. The session will be conducted in House Hearing Room 3 at the Missouri State Capitol.
Members of the public are also invited to offer comments to the CALEA assessment team by calling (573) 526-3830 on July 14 between the hours of 1p.m. and 3p.m.
Telephone comments as well as appearances at the public information session are limited to 10 minutes and must address Missouri Capitol Police's ability to comply with CALEA standards. A copy of the standards is available at Missouri Capitol Police Headquarters, 630 West Main Street, Jefferson City, MO. Anyone who would like to review the standards may call Capitol Police Lt. Eric Clemons at (573) 751-2764. A copy of the standards will also be available at the public information session.
Anyone wishing to submit written comments about Missouri Capitol Police's ability to meet the standards for accreditation is requested to write: Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320 Gainesville, VA 20155.
"The benefits of accreditation include greater accountability within the agency, increased community advocacy, and recognition of excellence," Chief Hurt said. "The goals of accreditation are to further strengthen crime prevention and control capabilities; formalize essential management procedures; enhance existing fair and nondiscriminatory personnel practices; and continue to improve service delivery.”
Accreditation is for three years, during which the agency must submit annual reports attesting to continued compliance with CALEA standards.
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 (703) 352-4225 or email calea@calea.org.For more information, call 573-751-5432 or e-mail mike.oconnell@dps.mo.gov