ACCREDITATION ASSESSMENT TEAM INVITES PUBLIC COMMENT

Prince George’s County, Maryland…Prince George’s County Interim Police Chief Mark Magaw announced today that a team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), will arrive April 16 to examine all aspects of the Prince George’s County Police Department’s policies and procedures, management, operations, and support services. “Accreditation is very important to our Department and to those we serve because it is a meaningful way of measuring ourselves against internationally recognized standards, and fits perfectly with our commitment to excellence,” stated Interim Police Chief Mark Magaw.

Chief Magaw said that achieving and maintaining accreditation requires the Department to comply with over 400 standards. “Verification by the team that the Prince George’s County Police Department meets the Commission’s state-of-the-art standards is part of a voluntary process to gain accreditation, or, in our case, re-accreditation - a highly prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence,” Chief Magaw said.

As part of the assessment, agency employees and members of the community are invited to offer comments at a public information session on Monday evening, April 18 at 6:00 p.m. The session will be held in the Multi-Purpose Room, Police Services Complex, 7600 Barlowe Road, Palmer Park, Maryland.

If an individual is unable to attend and speak at the public information session, but still wishes to provide comments to the assessment team, he/she may do so by contacting the assessors at (301) 772-4779 on Sunday, April 17 between 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.  

         
Telephone comments, like comments at the public information session, may be limited to 10 minutes and must address the agency’s ability to comply with CALEA’s standards.  A copy of the standards is available for review at the Prince George’s County Police Department.  Local contact is Mr. Donald Pike at (301) 772-4775.

Persons wishing to offer written comments about the Department’s ability to meet the standards for accreditation may write to Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320, Gainesville, Virginia 20155.

For more information regarding the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., please write the Commission at address above or call (703) 352-4225.