Berlin Police Accreditation Assessment Team Invites Public Comment

A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), will arrive December 1, 2012 to examine all aspects of the Berlin Police Department’s policy and procedures, management, operations and support services said Chief Paul Fitzgerald.

Verification by the team that the Berlin Police Department meets the Commission's state-of-the-art standards is part of a voluntary process to gain accreditation - a highly prized recognition of public safety professional excellence, he said.

As part of the on-site assessment, agency personnel and members of the community are invited to offer comments at a public information session Monday December 3, 2012 at 7 p.m. The session will be conducted in the town council chambers on the third floor of the Berlin Town Hall. Town Hall is located at 240 Kensington Road, Berlin, Connecticut.  If for some reason an individual cannot speak at the public information session, but would still like to provide comments to the assessment team, he/she may do so by telephone. The pubic may call (860) 828-7102 on Monday December 3, 2012 between the hours of 1:30 and 3:30 p.m.

Telephone comments as well as appearances at the public information are limited to ten minutes and must address the agency's ability to comply with CALEA's standards. A copy of the standards is available at the Berlin Police Department. The Accreditation Manager for the Berlin Police Department is Lieutenant Chris Ciuci assisted by Sergeant Mike Jobes. They can be reached at (860) 828-7080.

Persons wishing to offer written comments about the Berlin Police Department's ability to meet the standards for accreditation are requested to write: Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA),13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320 Gainesville, Virginia 20155

The Berlin Police Department has to comply with 311 of the applicable mandatory standards and at least 80 percent of the non-mandatory standards in order to gain accredited status, Chief Fitzgerald said. The department is currently in compliance with all 311 mandatory standards and 77 of the 86 non-mandatory standards or 90 percent. The Berlin Police Department has been an internationally accredited agency since 1996 and is now seeking its fifth re-accreditation. 

To receive accredited status by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies is an important achievement for our department, Chief Fitzgerald said. Accreditation requires us to develop comprehensive, well thought out, and uniform set of policies and procedures. This is one of the most successful methods for reaching administrative and operational goals, while also providing direction to our personnel. Accreditation also limits the department’s liability and risk exposure because it demonstrates that internationally recognized standards for law enforcement have been met and verified by a team of independent outside CALEA-trained assessors. Accreditation also facilitates our pursuit of professional excellence. 

The CALEA Program Manager for the Berlin Police Department is Mr. Stephen Mitchell. He said that 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 offices and other locations where compliance can be witnessed.

The assessors are:  

• Andrew F. Cannady, Captain (Retired), Greensboro Police Department, Greensboro, NC 27410

• Eric Borrin, Assistant Director, New Hampshire Bureau for Juvenile Justice Services, 129 Pleasant Street, Concord, NH 03301-3852

Once the CALEA Assessors complete their review of the agency, they report back to the full Commission, which will then decide if the agency is to be granted accredited status, Mr. Stephen Mitchell stated.

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

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