Accreditation Assessment Team for ASU Police Department Invites Public Comment

Jonesboro, AR March 26, 2012 - A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA®), will arrive April 1, 2012 to examine all aspects of the Arkansas State University Police Department’s policy and procedures, management, operations, and support services, Chief Randy Martin announced today.

Verification by the team that Arkansas State University 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 April 2, 2012 starting at 3pm. The session will be conducted in the Arkansas State University Police Department Conference Room located at 503 Robinson, Jonesboro AR.

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 870-972-2228 on Monday April 2, 2012 between the hours of 1:00 P.M. and 3:00 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 Standards. A copy of the standards is available at the University Police Department. Lieutenant Jarrod Long will be the contact for this information.

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

The Arkansas State University Police Department has to comply with 166 standards in order to gain accredited status, Chief Martin said.

The CALEA Program Manager for the Arkansas State University Police Department is Mr. Stephen Mitchell. He said 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 officers and other locations where compliance can be witnessed.

The assessors are: Deputy Chief Michael Webb from Pennsylvania and Captain Paul Barrows from Iowa.

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, Lt. Jarrod Long 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 Blvd, Suite 320, Gainesville, Virginia, 20155, or call (703) 352-4225 or email calea@calea.org.

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