Press Release July 30, 2013
CALEA Public Information Session
Clearcreek Township, OH – A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) will arrive August 12, 2013 to examine all aspects of the Clearcreek Township Police Division’s policy and procedures, management, operations and support services, Chief John Terrill announced today.
“Verification by the team that the Clearcreek Township Division of Police 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 on Tuesday evening August 13th at 7:00 p.m. The session will be conducted at the Clearcreek Township Government Center at 7593 Bunnell Hill Rd.
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 937-748-1267 on Wednesday afternoon August 14th, between the hours of 2 pm and 4 pm.
Telephone comments as well as appearances at the public information session are limited to 10 minutes and must address the agencies ability to comply with CALEA Standards. A copy of the standards is available at the Clearcreek Township Government Center. Ask for Accreditation Manager Sgt. Wally Stacy.
Persons wishing to offer written comments about the Clearcreek Township Police Division’s ability to meet the standards for accreditation are requested to write: Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement, Inc. (CALEA), 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320 Gainesville, Virginia 20155. “The Clearcreek Township Division of Police has to comply with 334 standards in order to gain re-accredited status,” Chief Terrill said. “Approval means that Clearcreek would remain one of only three accredited agencies in Warren County.”
The CALEA Program Manager for Clearcreek Township is Christie Goddard. She 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 Major Steve Seefchak, from the Aventura (Florida) Police Department, and Sgt. Chuck Groover, from the Covington (Georgia) Police Department.
“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”, Goddard 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; or call (800) 368-4225 or email calea@calea.org.