NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 18, 1997

ACCREDITATION ASSESSMENT TEAM INVITES PUBLIC COMMENT ON CARY PD

CARY -- Representatives of the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), will arrive in Cary this Saturday to begin a comprehensive examination of the Town’s Police Department. This assessment is part of a voluntary process which will allow Cary PD to continue its accreditation with the organization.

"Receiving accreditation is the most significant achievement a law enforcement agency can accomplish.," said Cary Police Chief Dave Fortson. "The team will evaluate every aspect of our program including policies, procedures, management, operations, and support services." In all, Cary PD must comply with 436 standards in order to be accredited.

As a part of its on-site assessment, the team will conduct a public information session during which agency employees and members of the community are invited to offer comments. The session will be held on Monday, September 22nd at 7:00 pm in the Cary Town Council Chambers, located at 316 N. Academy Street.

In addition to receiving comment at Monday’s information session, citizens will be able to share comments with the assessment team via a special telephone line--(919) 462-3800--which will be staffed from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm on Tuesday, September 23rd.

Telephone comments as well as those made at the public information session are limited to 10 minutes and must address the agency’s ability to comply with CALEA’s standards. A copy of the standards is available from Cary PD’s Accreditation Manager, Officer Teresa Marrella.

Written comments about Cary PD will also be accepted. Persons wishing to offer written comment are requested to write CALEA at 10306 Eaton Place, Suite 320, Fairfax, VA 22030-2201.

The assessment team is comprised of law enforcement practitioners from similar out-of-state agencies. The assessors review written materials, interview individuals, and visit officers and other places where compliance can be witnessed.

The assessment team leader is Chief David Kurz from Durham, New Hampshire. Other assessors include Sergeant Ward Rheintgen from Northfield, Illinois, and Director Robert Greenlaw of Northwest Bergen Central Dispatch, Ridgewood, New Jersey. Once the Commission’s 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.

Once granted, accreditation lasts for three years during which time the agency must submit annual reports attesting continued compliance with those standards under which they were initially accredited. According to Town Manager Bill Coleman, "The most meaningful outcome of having the Town’s police department accredited is the enhanced level of service which may provided to the community. Maintaining accredited status, as Cary PD has done now for the past five years, is difficult," he added. CALEA requires an agency to show that it is remaining in compliance with all applicable standards as well as with the policies, procedures, and programs originally developed and implemented to meet the standard.

For more information regarding the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., please write the Commission at 10306 Eaton Place, Suite 320, Fairfax, VA 22030-2201; or call (800) 368-3757 or (703) 352-4225.

PRIMARY CONTACTS: Chief Dave Fortson, Cary PD, 469-4015

Teresa Marrella, Cary PD, 460-4916

Bill Coleman, Town Manager, 469-4002

Susan Moran, Public Information Officer, 460-4951

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