Clayton Police Department Undergoes Assessment for Reaccreditation
January 18, 2012
ACCREDITATION ASSESSMENT TEAM INVITES PUBLIC COMMENT
A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) will arrive February 8, 2012 for the purpose of examining all aspects of the Clayton Police Department’s management and operational practices, Chief Tom Byrne announced today. The assessment team will consist of a pair of law enforcement professionals from out-of-state police agencies who will examine all aspects of the Clayton Police Department, including their policies, procedures, management, operations, and support services to determine Clayton’s compliance with a wide spectrum of established CALEA standards.
Verification by the team that the Clayton 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. The department initially obtained accredited status in 2000. Successful compliance with the necessary qualifications for its fourth re-accreditation will be a significant achievement that underscores the department’s long-standing commitment to excellence, Chief Tom Byrne said.
As part of the four-day on-site assessment, agency employees and members of the community are invited to offer comments at a public information session Thursday evening, February 9, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. The session will be conducted in Room C at the Center of Clayton, 50 Gay Avenue.
If for some reason an individual cannot speak at the public information session, but would still like to provide their input to the assessment team, he/she may do so by telephone. The general public and interested parties may call (314) 290-8585 on Thursday, February 9, 2012 between the hours of 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Telephone comments as well as appearances 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 at the Clayton Police Department. Individuals who wish to review the various standards should contact the department's Accreditation Manager Matt Jacobson, BP: (314) 290-8410.
Persons wishing to offer written comments about the Clayton Police Department’s ability to meet the standards for accreditation are requested to write CALEA at the following address: Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement, Inc. (CALEA), 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320, Gainesville, Virginia 20155.
The CALEA Program Manager for Clayton Police Department is Matt Jacobson. He said the assessors will review written policies and procedures, examine supporting documentation, interview department employees, conduct ride-a-long patrols, tour agency facilities, and visit offices and other locations where compliance can be observed.
The assessors are: Deputy Chief Francis Foley, Willowbrook, IL. Police Department
and Ms. Josel Theurer, Plano, TX. Police Department.
Once the assessor’s complete their review, they report their findings to the full commission, which will then decide if the agency is to be granted re-accreditation. A favorable ruling means the agency’s accredited status will again be in force for an additional three years, during which time the agency must continue its compliance with current CALEA standards.
For more information regarding the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., please write the commission at the above address call (703) 352-4225 or email calea@calea.org
About the City of Clayton
The City of Clayton (http://www.claytonmo.gov/) is the hub of metropolitan St. Louis and the seat of St. Louis County. Clayton’s safe, clean and vibrant business districts combine 7,000,000 square feet of prestigious office space with the vitality of 1,000,000 square feet of retail space. The city, with its incomparable city services and a school district that consistently ranks as one of the best in the country, is recognized as one of the most desirable communities in which to live and work in the metro area.
