CALEA Accreditation Assessment Team Invites Public Comment

Assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), will meet with representatives from the United States Capitol Police (USCP) to evaluate the Department's policies, procedures, operations, and administrative management services as it pertains to applicable CALEA standards. The assessment will take place July 30 – August 2, 2017.

The USCP was awarded its fifth reaccreditation award from CALEA in 2014. As a part of this reaccreditation process, the Department also received the CALEA Gold Standard Assessment (GSA). CALEA uses the GSA to distinguish model agencies who have demonstrated an enhanced delivery of public safety services through the effective use of, and compliance to, the standards representing the best practices within the law enforcement industry.

CALEA's Advanced Law Enforcement Accreditation Program is comprised on 484 standards that the USCP is required to comply with in order to maintain its accreditation. These standards reflect the thinking and experiences of law enforcement practitioners and researchers. The USCP's accreditation managers are Ms. Mary Rhone, Ms. Michele Harris, and Sergeant Jillian Jeffers.

As part of the on-site assessment process, Department employees and members of the community are invited to offer their comments during a phone call-in session on Tuesday, August 1, 2017, from 10 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. The number to call is (202) 228-3047, and callers should limit their comments to 10 minutes and they must address only matters specifically within the purview of the CALEA standards that are applicable to the USCP.

In addition, the USCP will be holding a public information session where Department employees and members of the community may provide their comments about the USCP with regard to the CALEA standards. The public information session also will be held on Tuesday, August 1, 2017, beginning at 2 p.m. in the USCP Interagency Conference Room located on the 1st Floor of USCP Headquarters, 119 D Street, N.E., Washington, D.C.

Copies of the CALEA standards are available upon request from the USCP Public Information Office (PIO@uscp.gov). Individuals planning to offer written comments may send them to the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320, Gainesville, Virginia 20155, or by email to calea@calea.org.

When the assessors complete their evaluation of the Department, they make their recommendation to the full Commission, which then determines if the USCP will be granted accredited status for the next three years.

"I am very proud that our Department was awarded the Gold Standard from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies in 2014. The Department is again seeking this distinction in 2017. This is the highest rating that a law enforcement agency can receive, and it is reserved for organizations that exhibit strong organizational health. This is a real testament to the professionalism of our workforce," noted Chief Matthew R. Verderosa.

"This regular accreditation process ensures that we are continuously reviewing our programs and functions, sharing and receiving lessons learned with peer law enforcement agencies, and most importantly, constantly implementing best law enforcement practices," added Chief Verderosa.

The CALEA assessment team is comprised of law enforcement professionals who review written materials, interview individuals, and visit police facilities where compliance can be observed. Mr. Stacy Kelly, former Assistant Chief from the Newport News (VA) Police Department, will be leading the assessment team. He will be joined by Interim Chief Kevin Hall from the Monroe Community College Department of Public Safety (Rochester, NY).

For more information about CALEA, please visit www.calea.org/content/law-enforcement-accreditation-program or call (703) 352-4225.

For additional information about the USCP's accreditation process, please contact the United States Capitol Police Public Information Office at (202) 224-1677.

###