Roswell Police Department to Undergo Reaccreditation

The Roswell Police Department will undergo an examination by assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) late this month to ensure the department maintains its high standards.

The team of assessors, who will arrive April 29, will check up on the department's policies, procedures, management, operations and support services. It's a part of the voluntary process a department may undergo to determine whether or not they meet the CALEA's state-of-the-art standards.

Roswell first achieved accreditation in 1995. To maintain this distinction, the department must undergo a periodic, rigorous examination of its policies and procedures. A successful on-site assessment will result in the department being awarded its fifth reaccreditation.

The Roswell Police Department must meet compliance with the 480 standards established by the Commission to maintain accredited status. The Police Department's Accreditation Program team is comprised:

• Detective Joel Montezinos
• Lieutenant James McGee

According to McGee, members of the re-accreditation assessment team are law enforcement practitioners from similarly sized, but out-of-state agencies. The three assessors will review written material, interview members of the department and visit other locations where standard compliance can be witnessed.

The assessors are:

• Christine Crocker retired from the Cumberland, Rhode Island Police Department
• Mel Lange from the North Palm Beach Florida Department of Public Safety

Once the Commission's assessors complete their review of the agency, they will report their findings and recommendations back to the full Commission. The Commission will then decide if the agency will be granted reaccreditation status. Reaccreditation is for three years. During this time, the agency must submit annual reports attesting continued compliance with those standards under which they received accreditation.

As a part of the on-site assessment, agency employees, members of the community, elected officials and other interested parties are invited to offer comments at a public information session on Monday, April 30 at 5 p.m. at Roswell City Court inside , 38 Hill Street. (Editor's Note: The meeting time was changed from 7 p.m. to 5 p.m.)

If for some reason an individual cannot speak at the public information session but would still like to provide comments to the reaccreditation assessment team, he or she may do so by telephone. This telephone is private and unrecorded. The public may call 770-640-4509 on Monday, April 30, 2012 between the hours of 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Telephone comments, as well as appearances at the public information session, are limited to ten minutes and must address the agency's ability to comply with CALEA’s standards A copy of these standards is available at the Roswell Police Department, 39 Hill Street.

Anyone wishing to offer written comments about the Roswell Police Department's ability to meet the standards for reaccreditation or to seek additional information about CALEA is requested to write or call: Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320 Gainesville, Virginia 20155 (703) 352-4225 FAX (703) 890-3126