BLACKSBURG, Va., Aug. 10, 2006 – A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), will arrive on Saturday, Aug. 26 to examine all aspects of the Virginia Tech Police Department policies and procedures, management, operations, and support services.
“Verification by the team that the Virginia Tech 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 law enforcement professional excellence,” said Interim Police Chief Wendell R. Flinchum.
As part of the on-site assessment, agency employees and members of the community are invited to offer comments at a public information session on Monday, Aug. 28 at 6 p.m. The session will be conducted at the Inn of Virginia Tech located at 901 Prices Fork Rd.
If individuals cannot attend the public information session, but would still like to provide comments to assessment team, they may do so calling (540) 231-9304 on Aug. 28 between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.
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 Virginia Tech Police Department from Sgt. Scott Lau or Denise Linkenhoker.
Individuals wanting to submit written comments about the Virginia Tech Police Department’s ability to meet the standards for accreditation are asked to write: Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc. (CALEA), 10302 Eaton Place, Suite 100, Fairfax, VA., 22030-2215.
“The assessment team, composed of law enforcement practitioners from similar but out-of-state agencies, will review written materials, interview individuals, and visit offices and other places where compliance can be witnessed,” said Sgt. Scott Lau, accreditation manager for the Virginia Tech Police Department. “Once the Commission assessment team completes 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.”
Accreditation is for three years, during which the agency must submit annual reports attesting continued compliance with those standards under which it was originally accredited. This will be the third re-accreditation process for the Virginia Tech Police Department after receiving its initial accreditation status in 1995.
Members of the assessment team include: Judith D. King, Chief of Police at the California State Univ. Fullerton Police Department, team leader; Linda J. Stump, Chief of Police at the University of Florida Police Department, and Paul McCurtain, Accreditation Manager at the St. Charles Police Department located in St. Charles, Illinois.
For more information regarding the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc., call (CALEA), call (800) 368-3757 or (703) 352-4225, or write to 10302 Eaton Place, Suite 100, Fairfax, VA, 22030-2215.