Behind the Badge
A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) will arrive Aug. 13, 2017 to examine all aspects of the Tustin Police Department’s policies and procedures, management, operations and support services, Chief Charlie Celano has announced.
Verification by the team that Tustin Police Department meets the commission’s state-of-the-art standards is part of a voluntary process to gain reaccreditation – a highly prized recognition of law enforcement excellence, he said.
As a 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, Aug. 14, 2017 at 5 p.m. The session will be conducted in the City of Tustin Council Chambers, located at 300 Centennial Way, Tustin, CA.
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 (714) 573-3319 on Monday, Aug. 14, 2017 between the hours of 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Comments will be taken by the Assessment Team.
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. Please contact Manager Thao Nguyen at (714) 573-3282 with any questions about CALEA standards.
Anyone wishing to submit written comments about the Tustin Police Department’s ability to comply with the Standards for Accreditation may send them to: Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Ste. 320, Gainesville, VA, 20155; attention Mark Mosier.
The Accreditation Program Manager for the Tustin Police Department is Mgr. Thao Nguyen. She said the assessment team is composed of law enforcement practitioners from similar but out-of- state agencies. The assessors will review written materials, interview individuals and visit offices and other places where compliance can be witnessed. The Assessment Team will be comprised of two experienced CALEA assessors, namely, Chief Louis Dekmar, LaGrange Police Department, LaGrange, Ga.; and Ms. Dorris Certain, University Park Police Department, Carrollton, 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 again granted accredited status, Chief Celano 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. (CALEA), please write the Commission at 13575 Heathcote Blvd., Ste. 320, Gainesville, VA 20155, or call (703) 352-4225. Additional information may be accessed at calea.org
