[Archived] Alexandria Police Department Invites Public Comment in Accreditation Re-Certification Process

For Immediate Release:  February 6, 2020 

The Alexandria Police Department is scheduled for a site-based assessment as part of a program to achieve accreditation recertification by verifying compliance with over 480 professional standards.

Administered by the international credentialing authority Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), the accreditation program requires agencies to comply with state-of-the-art standards in four fundamental areas:  policy and procedure, administration, operations and support services.

The assessment team is composed of public safety practitioners from similar, but out-of-state agencies.  The assessors will review written materials, interview individuals, and visit locations where compliance can be witnessed.

The assessors are:      

• Mr. Timothy Fitch, Police Chief (Retired), St. Louis County (MO) Police Department
• Captain Mark Schwobel, Hurst (TX) Police Department.

As part of the site-based assessment, agency employees and members of the community are invited to offer comments at a public information session.  The session will be conducted in the Alexandria Police Department’s Community Room, 3600 Wheeler Avenue on Wednesday February 19, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. 

Anyone wishing to submit written comments about the Alexandria Police Department’s ability to comply with the standards for accreditation may send them to the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), 13575 Heathcote Blvd., Suite 320, Gainesville, VA 20155 or www.calea.org.

Agency employees and the public are also invited to offer comments by calling 703.746.6864 on Wednesday February 19, 2020, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Comments will be directed to and managed by the Assessment team.

Telephone comments as well as appearances at the public information session are limited to 10 minutes and must address the agency’s ability to comply with CALEA’s standards. 

For more information regarding the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. please write the Commission at 13575 Heathcote Blvd., Suite 320, Gainesville, VA 20155; or call (703) 352-4225; or email calea@calea.org; or visit their website at www.calea.org.