TOWN OF CARY POLICE DEPARTMENT SEEKS PUBLIC COMMENT FOR REACCREDITATION

CARY , NC –As a part of its on-site reassessment of the Town of Cary ’s Police Department, representatives of the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) will hold a public input session during which agency employees and members of the community are invited to offer comments.  The session is being held Monday, December 11 at 7 p.m. in the second floor Police Department Training Room at 120 Wilkinson Ave. on the Town Hall Campus.  Comments must address the agency's ability to comply with CALEA's standards. A copy of the standards is available at the Cary Police Department in the Professional Standards Unit.

In addition to receiving comment at the information session, citizens can share comments with the assessment team via a special telephone line – (919) 469-3947—also on Monday between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. or via e-mail at alex.gazaway@townofcary.org.  Comments may also be mailed to: Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA); 10302 Eaton Place, Suite 100 ; Fairfax , VA   22030-2215 .  All verbal comments are limited to 10 minutes.

Cary ’s reassessment is part of a voluntary process that will allow Cary PD to continue its accreditation with the national organization.  In all, Cary PD must comply with 446 standards in order to keep its accreditation. The assessors will review written materials, interview individuals, and visit offices and other locations where compliance can be witnessed.  

"Accreditation by CALEA is a distinguished honor that we are proud to have earned consistently for nearly 15 years,” said Town of Cary Police Chief Scott Cunningham .  “Reaccreditation speaks to the high level of attention our Town constantly places on not only meeting or exceeding national public safety standards.  We invite all citizens to be a part of this process, and provide comments about how our department is serving you.”    

This year’s assessors are:  Virgil Young Jr., Federal Bureau of Investigation (Retired), William Price from the Vernon Hills, Illinois Police Department, and Shane Loxterkamp of the Edmonton Police Service, Alberta , Canada .

Once the assessors complete their review of an agency, they report back to the full Commission which then decides if the agency is to be granted accredited status or, in the case of the Cary Police Department, reaccredited status.  

The Cary Police Department has been accredited since 1992.  Accreditation is for three years, during which time the agency must submit annual reports attesting continued compliance with those standards under which they were initially accredited.  

In addition to its police department, the Town of Cary ’s Fire and Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources departments are also nationally accredited.  

More information about the accreditation process can be found at www.calea.org.

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