Archives > Southlake Times > News
Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
RSS
Share
Southlake DPS seeks public comment during accreditation assessment
By Heather M. Goodwin, hgoodwin@starlocalnews.com
Southlake residents will have the chance to give their opinion on police services during the department's upcoming accreditation process.
A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) will conduct on-site assessments of the department from April 1-4 to examine all aspects of the Southlake Department of Public Safety, police services division. The team will assess police services' policies and procedures, management, operations and support services.
"This is an added step that we do to make sure we have highest level of standards," said Kim Leach, public information officer for the Southlake Department of Public Safety. "It is a very stringent process."
As part of the on-site assessment, employees and members of the community are invited to offer comments at a public information session at 7 p.m. Monday, April 2 in the Southlake City Council Chambers, 1400 Main St. Those who are unable to attend the public hearing and wish to provide comments to the assessment team may do so by telephone from 2 to 4 p.m. Monday, April 2 by calling 817-748-8910. The phone line will be answered by a member of the CALEA assessment team.
"During the public hearing and through phone calls, residents may ask questions or make comments about how they believe the department is doing," said Lt. Ashleigh Douglas. "We think it's really important for the public to get involved because it's their opportunity to give feedback. It's important to know how we're doing and what the public's perception of how we're doing is."
Telephone comments and appearances at the public hearing are limited to 10 minutes per person and must address Southlake Police Services' ability to comply with CALEA Standards. A copy of the standards manual is available for examination during regular business hours at the Southlake Library Reference Desk. The phone number to the Library reference desk is 817-748-8247.
Individuals wishing to submit written comments about Southlake Police Services' ability to comply with the accreditation standards may write to: Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320, Gainesville, Virginia 20155.
Douglas said the department has to comply with more than 400 standards. The accreditation is a three-year cycle and at the end of the period, the assessors come in, review files and confirm if those files satisfy the standards to show compliance with CALEA.
"This process allows us to take a look at areas of liability and find ways to lower that liability," Douglas said. "We've seen, over last several years, a trend of departments that want to be seen as professional. We also want to be seen as professional, and this is one way to do that."
Douglas said once the on site assessment is complete the team lead assessor will complete a report and send it to the CALEA commission to make the final decision on re-accreditation. Should the commission award accreditation, then the department will attend the CALEA conference in July to accept the award.
Southlake received its first accreditation in 2000.
The following are comments from the readers.
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
You must register with a valid email to post comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Registered users sign in here:
Become a Registered User
- Return to: News «
- Home «
- Top of Page ^
