Public Input Needed in Onsite Assessment of Norcross PD

A team of assessors from the Commission for Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies Inc. (CALEA) will be at the Norcross Police Department on Tuesday, Dec. 11, to examine the department's procedures, management, operations and support services.

As part of the onsite assessment, agency personnel and members of the community are invited to offer comments during a public information session at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 12, in the Norcross Council Chambers, located at 65 Lawrenceville Street.

Norcross Police Chief Warren Summers announced last week that meeting CALEA's state of art standards is part of a voluntary process to gain accreditation. Having this accreditation is a highly prized recognition of law enforcement professional experience, according to Summers in a press release.

If someone would like to comment on the matter but cannot make the Wednesday meeting, the public may leave their messages by calling 678-421-2006 that same day between 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Comments by phone and in person are limited to 10 minutes each and must address the agency's ability to comply with CALEA's standards, according to the release. A copy of the standards is available at the Norcross Police Department through Capt. Brian Harr, 770-448-2111 ext. 2306.

Written comments are accepted, too, at: Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Inc., 13575 Heathcote Blvd., Suite 320, Gainesville, VA 20155.

Capt. Brian Harr, the accreditation program manager for Norcross, wrote in the press release that the accreditation team is composed of law enforcement practitioners from similar but out-of-state agencies. The assessors will review written material, interview, and visit offices and other places where compliance can be witnessed.

Once the commission's assessors complete their reviews of the agency, they report to the full commission, which will then decide if the agency is to be granted accredited status, Harr said.

Accreditation lasts for three years during which the agency must submit annual reports attesting continuing compliance with those standards under which it was initially accredited.

For more information regarding the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc., write to the Commission at the aforementioned address or call 703-352-4225.