Asheville Police Department to take citizen call-ins, comments on Aug. 25

Posted on by David Forbes

As part of the process of gaining re-accreditation, the Asheville Police Department will hold a call-in and an information session on Monday, Aug. 25, to find out how well it has met policing standards, a release from the department announced today.

The call-in session will be from 2 to 4 p.m. on Aug. 25. The number to call is 271-6184, and callers are asked to limit their comments to no more than 10 minutes, focusing on how (or if) the department is meeting the standards of the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc. CALEA, which assesses law-enforcement agencies in the United States and Canada for the quality of their service, has accredited some 750 departments. The APD has been accredited since 1994 and has gone through the process five times.

The APD will also hold a public information session at 7:30 p.m. the same day in the north conference room in City Hall.

The full release is reprinted below.

— David Forbes, staff writer

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For Immediate Release
Aug. 14, 2008
Asheville Police Department
Contact: Lt. Rae Ferguson
Phone: 828-251-4037
E-mail: Rferguson@ashevillenc.gov
ASHEVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO UNDERGO PEER ASSESSMENT, PUBLIC COMMENT TO ACHIEVE NATIONAL RE- ACCREDITATION

ASHEVILLE – In an effort to obtain national re-accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc., the Asheville Police Department will host an on-site assessment by a national team of law enforcement professionals and invite comments at a public call-in session on Monday, Aug. 25.

The call-in session will follow a two-day review of the bureau’s policies and procedures, management, operation and support services. Verification by the assessment team will result in national re-accreditation, a highly-prized recognition of law enforcement excellence.  This will be the Asheville Police Department’s fifth re-accreditation since the initial award in 1994.

Compliance with CALEA’s 459 standards of performance guarantees professionalism and excellence in a law enforcement agency. Only 750 agencies have achieved this status.

Chief William Hogan invites department employees and citizens statewide to participate in the call-in session by calling 1-828 271-6184.  Calls will be accepted from 2 to 4 p.m. There will also be a public information session on Monday, Aug. 25 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the North Conference Room at City Hall in Asheville North Carolina.  Comments are limited to 10 minutes and must address the agency’s ability to comply with CALEA standards. The standards are posted at http://www.calea.org or available by contacting Lt. Rae Ferguson, 828 251-4037.  Written comments addressing the department’s ability to meet the accreditation standards may be addressed to: CALEA Inc., 10302 Eaton Place, Suite 100, Fairfax, VA 22030-2215.

Chief William Hogan and Accreditation Manager Lt. Rae Ferguson will host assessment team members, who will review written materials, interview individuals and visit offices. Team members include Mr. William F. New Jr., Deputy Director Charleston Airport Authority (North Charleston Police Department (Ret.), Assistant Chief Richard A. Winstanley, Hurst Police Department, Hurst, Texas and Lieutenant Rick L. Meredith, Kingsport Police Department, Kingsport, Tennessee.

The CALEA program is a voluntary accreditation program offered to law enforcement agencies nationwide. Accreditation is effective for three years, during which the agency must submit annual reports attesting continued compliance with the standards.

For more information about CALEA accreditation, citizens may write the organization in Fairfax, Va., or call (800) 368-3757.

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