Chief Invites Public Comments on How Police Officers Do Their Jobs

How would you rate the job the Anne Arundel County Police Department does?

Residents can comment on how the police department meets national standards at a public meeting on April 7.  The session is part of a review by a team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies. They will arrive April 6 to examine all aspects of the Anne Arundel County Police Department’s policy and procedures, management, operations, and support services, Chief Kevin Davis announced.

Verification by the team that the Anne Arundel County Police Department meets the commission’s state-of-the-art standards is part of a voluntary process to gain accreditation or re-accreditation, a highly prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence, he said.

As part of the on-site assessment, agency employees and members of the community are invited to comment at a public information session at 6 p.m. Monday, April 7. The session will be held in the Hein Building Auditorium, 7480 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. in Glen Burnie.

If you cannot attend the public comment session, but would still like to speak to the assessment team, you may call (410) 222-8972 on Monday, April 7, between 1 and 3 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 the commission’s standards.

Residents can send written comments about the Anne Arundel County Police Department’s ability to meet the standards for accreditation to: Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320, Gainesville, VA 20155.

“The Anne Arundel County Police Department complies with over 400 standards in order to maintain our accredited status,” Chief Davis said. “Accreditation is very important to the Anne Arundel County Police Department because it allows us to measure our department against a set of internationally recognized standards and assists with our endless pursuit of attaining the highest professional standards and best practices.”

The accreditation manager for the Anne Arundel County Police Department is Cpl. Beth Miller. She said the assessment team is composed of law enforcement professionals from similar but out-of-state/country 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 – Retired Superintendent Susan Maycock from the Peel Regional Police (ON, Canada), and Captain Richard Lane from the Indian River County (FL) Sheriff’s Office.

“Once the commission’s assessors complete their review of our department, they report back to the full commission, which will then decide if our agency will maintain its accredited status,” Davis said.

Accreditation is for three years, during which the agency must submit annual reports showing continued compliance with the standards under which it was initially accredited or reaccredited.

For more information regarding the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., call 703-352-4225.