Novi Police Department Seeks Coveted Recognition For Excellence

A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), will be in Novi on March 12-13 to hear public comment and examine all aspects of the Novi Police Department’s policy and procedures, management, operations, and support services.

The voluntary verification process will move the Novi Police Department a step closer to receiving national accreditation.

“CALEA accreditation is the gold standard in law enforcement and we welcome the assessment to ensure we meet their state-of-the-art standards,” said Director of Public Safety/Chief of Police David E. Molloy. “Hearing from the public is a key part of the process and we encourage feedback as we work toward our goal of being one of the elite law enforcement agencies in the country.”

Accreditation isn't easy to come by. In 2015, just seven Michigan police agencies earned the designation, according to CALEA's most recent annual report.

As part of the assessment, agency personnel and members of the community are invited to offer comments at a public information session at 4 p.m. on March 13 in the City Council Chambers at the Novi Civic Center, 45175 Ten Mile Road.

Community members also can provide comments by calling 248-347-0517 on March 13 between the hours of 1-3pm. Telephone comments, as well as those made at the public information session, are limited to 10 minutes. A copy of the standards is available at the Novi Police Department. The local contact is Sgt. Kevin Rhea, 248-347-0572.

Written comments can be mailed to the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement, Inc., 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320 Gainesville, Va. 20155.

The Novi Police Department has to comply with 421 standards in order to gain accredited status. Accreditation lasts for four years, during which the agency must submit annual reports showing continued compliance.

For more information about CALEA, visit calea.org or email calea@calea.org. For more information about the Novi Police Department, visit cityofnovi.org.

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