Salisbury Police Department Accreditation On-Site

On December 2, 2010 – A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), will arrive on December 11, 2010 to examine all aspects of the Salisbury Police Department’s Policy and Procedures, management, operations and support services, Chief Barbara Duncan announced today.

“Verification by the team that the Salisbury 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 law enforcement professional excellence” she said.

As part of the on-site assessment, agency employees and members of the community are invited to offer comments at a public information session on Monday, December 13, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. The session will be conducted in the Wicomico County Board of Education Auditorium, 101 Long Avenue,  Salisbury, Maryland.

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 public may call # 410-548-1429 on Monday, December 13, 2010, between the hours of 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
    
Telephone comments as well as appearances at the public information session are limited to ten (10) minutes and must address the agency’s ability to comply with CALEA’s standards. A copy of the standards is available for review at the Salisbury Police Department, 699 W. Salisbury Parkway, Salisbury, Maryland.  Contact Captain Mark Tyler at 410-548-3165 to review these standards.

 Persons wishing to offer written comments about the Salisbury Police Department’s standards for accreditation are requested to write:  The Commission of Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), 13575 Heathcote Blvd., Suite 320, Gainesville, VA  20155.

The Salisbury Police Department has to comply with over 400 standards in order to gain re-accreditation status. Chief Duncan, also said “The Salisbury Police Department was the 45th law enforcement agency to be accredited in 1987. Many of CALEA’s goals and standards directly apply to the “Report on Police” (1972) by the National Advisory Commission on Criminal Justice Standards and Goals which provided direction for law enforcement agencies and to improve services to those they attend. Accreditation is part of the solution to problems facing law enforcement today.”

The Accreditation Program Manager is Captain Mark Tyler. He said “The assessment team is composed of law enforcement officials from similar but out of state agencies. The assessors will review written materials, interview individuals, and visit officers and other places where compliance can be witnessed. The assessors are:
Chief Stephen Walker – Centerville, Ohio
 Lt. Brenda Slovak – Keller, Texas

“Once the Commission’s 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 re-accredited status” Tyler stated.