Chief Thomas H. Streicher, Jr., announced today that a team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), will arrive in Cincinnati on April 25, 2009 to examine all aspects of the Cincinnati Police Department’s policies and procedures, management, operations, and support services.
Accreditation is a highly prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence. The Cincinnati Police Department was originally accredited in July 1997. Verification by the Assessment Team that the Cincinnati Police Department meets the Commission’s state-of-the-art standards is part of a voluntary process to remain accredited.
As part of the on-site assessment, employees of the City of Cincinnati and members of the community are invited to offer comments addressing the agency’s ability to comply with CALEA standards at a public information session on Monday, April 27, 2009. Comments will be limited to ten minutes. The session will be conducted at the Cincinnati Police Department Training Section located at 800 Evans St., Classroom A, beginning at 6:00 p.m.
If for some reason an individual cannot speak at the public information session but would like to provide comments to the Assessment Team, they may do so by telephone. The public may call 513-357-7568 on Monday, April 27, 2009, between the hours of 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. Telephone comments must address the department’s ability to comply with CALEA standards.
Anyone wishing to submit written comments about the Cincinnati Police Department’s ability to comply with the standards for accreditation may send them to: Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA),
10302 Eaton Place, Suite 100, Fairfax, Virginia, 22030-2215
The Cincinnati Police Department will comply with applicable standards in order to retain accredited status. Obtaining reaccreditation is a way to substantiate continuing compliance with nationally accepted law enforcement standards approved by an independent body of law enforcement professions, including the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), and the National Sheriffs Association (NSA).
The Assessment Team is composed of law enforcement practitioners from similar, but out-of-state police agencies. The assessors will review written materials, interview individuals, and visit offices and other places where compliance can be ascertained. The team leader is Major Timothy Fitch, St. Louis County Police Department. His team consists of Master Sergeant Randy Scott, Oklahoma City Police Department, and Chief Wendell D. Register, Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Once the Commission’s assessors complete their review of the Cincinnati Police Department, they will report to the full Commission, which will then make a determination if the Cincinnati Police Department will retain “accredited” status.
For more information regarding CALEA, contact:
Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc.,
10302 Eaton Place, Suite 100
Fairfax, Virginia, 22030-2215
(800) 368-3757.
