Columbus Division of Police Invites Public Comment

For Immediate Release:         
For further information, Contact:  Sergeant Rich Weiner or Amanda Ford at (614) 645-4593
Public Information Office
April 11, 2008
MA# 23-2008

press release
A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) will be evaluating the Columbus Division of Police on April 13 -17, 2008.  All aspects of the Division’s policies and procedures, management system, operations and support services will be evaluated.

“Verification by the team that the Columbus Division of Police meets the Commission’s state-of-the-art standards is part of a voluntary process to gain re-accreditation a highly prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence,” Chief Jackson 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, April 14, 2008 at 7:00 pm. The session will be conducted in the auditorium of the Columbus Division of Police Training Academy, 1000 N. Hague Avenue, Columbus, Ohio.

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 645-4095 on Monday, April 14, 2008 between the hours of 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm. Telephone comments, and/or in-person comments, at the public information session are limited to 10 minutes and must address the Division’s ability to comply with CALEA standards.  A copy of the standards is available in the Columbus Division of Police Accreditation Unit located on the 8th floor of Central Police Headquarters, 120 Marconi Boulevard.  For additional information, contact Lieutenant Craig Stone, Accreditation Program Manager, at 614/645-4603. 

Persons wishing to offer written comments about the Columbus Division of Police’s ability to meet the standards for accreditation are requested to write: Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), 10302 Eaton Place, Suite 100, Fairfax, Virginia, 22030-2215.

The Columbus Division of Police must comply with 446 standards in order to gain accredited status, Chief James G. Jackson said.  “CALEA accreditation shows the citizens of Columbus, Ohio, as well as other agencies across the nation that the Columbus Division of Police personnel are adhering to a higher set of professional standards, thus improving the quality of service the citizens of Columbus will receive.”

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 assessors are: Team Leader Captain Howard Hall, Baltimore County Police Department, Towson, Maryland, Lieutenant Virgil Hubbard, Knoxville Police Department, Knoxville, Tennessee and Master Sergeant Randy Scott, Oklahoma City Police Department, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Once the assessors complete their review of the agency, they report back to the full Commission, which will then decide if the Division is to be granted re-accreditation status.  Accreditation is for three years, during which time 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 10302 Eaton Place, Suite 100, Fairfax, Virginia, 22030-2215; or call (800) 368-3757 or (703) 352-4225.