FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Griffin Police Department will be involved in the re-accreditation process with the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). Accreditation by CALEA means the department is being compared to other law enforcement agencies in the country. The goal of CALEA is to establish a national level of standards in which to encourage law enforcement professionalism.

The Griffin Police Department is presently certified through the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police. The agency has been certified since 1999 and was re-certified on June 16, 2009 at the state level. The Griffin Police Department received its first CALEA Accreditation at the national level in 2006.

Accreditation benefits the police department by controlling liability insurance costs, strengthening its defense against lawsuits/citizen complaints, creating greater accountability within the agency, increasing support from government officials, improving community advocacy and improving employee morale.

This accreditation program requires agencies to comply with standards in policy and procedures, administration, operations, and support services. Areas include compensation, grievance and disciplinary procedures, recruitment, selection, training, career development, promotion, patrol, criminal investigations, vice crime, juvenile operations, crime prevention, community relations, criminal intelligence, internal affairs, inspections, victim/witness assistance, traffic, prisoner transportation, holding facilities, court security, legal process, communications, records, and collection of evidence.

As part of an on-site assessment, agency employees and members of the community are invited to make comments at a public information session at 7 PM on Monday, October 19, 2009 at Griffin City Hall located at 100 South Hill Street. During the public information session members of the community can call 770-229-4763 and speak with any of the assessors in reference to the police department accreditation process. Comments are limited to 10 minutes and must address the police department’s ability to comply with CALEA standards. Copies of the standards are available for review at the Griffin Police Department, Griffin City Hall, and Flint River Regional Library.

The contact for any CALEA related questions is Eddie Bogan, the Accreditation Manager. He can be reached at 770-229-6450 extension 344. An optional way to express an opinion is by contacting the assessment team at 770-229-6450 extension 524 between 1 PM and 5 PM on October 19, 2009. Anyone wishing to submit written comments about CALEA compliance may send them to:

Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement
10306 Eaton Place, Suite 320
Fairfax, VA 22030-2201.

The assessment team is composed of law enforcement practitioners from similar sized agencies from other states. The assessors will review written materials, interview individuals, visit offices, and other places where compliance can be witnessed. Once the Commission assessors complete their review of the agency, they report back to the full Commission, which will then decide if the agency is granted re-accredited status. The assessors are:

Chief Douglas Knight
Vandalia Division of Police
245 James E. Bohanan Drive
Vandalia, Ohio 45377

Lt. Robert Wagner
University of Florida Police Department
Bldg. #51 Museum Road
Gainesville, Florida 32611

The accreditation is for three years at the end of which the department will go through a third re-accreditation process. During this period, the agency must submit audit reports attesting continued compliance with all standards.