HIGHWAY PATROL ACCREDITATION ASSESSMENT TEAM INVITES PUBLIC COMMENT

 

A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) will arrive Sunday, April 18, 2009 to examine all aspects of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol's policy and procedures, management, operations, and support services, Colonel Walter J. Wilson Jr., announced today.

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol has to comply with approximately 449 standards in order to gain re-accredited status. By undergoing this voluntary submittal of intense scrutiny and peer review from the Commission, the Highway Patrol can prove to the citizens of North Carolina that their state law enforcement agency is among the finest in the nation.

As part of the on-site assessment, agency employees and members of the public are invited to offer comments directly to the assessment team by calling 877-718-5546 between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m., on Monday, April 20th. Comments are limited to 10 minutes and must address the agency's ability to comply with CALEA's standards.

A copy of the standards is available at the eight Troop Headquarters offices throughout North Carolina, and on CALEA's web page at http://www.calea.org. Troop Headquarters are located in Greenville, Fayetteville, Raleigh, Greensboro, Salisbury, Newton, Asheville, and Monroe.

Persons wishing to offer written comments about the North Carolina State Highway Patrol's ability to meet the standards for accreditation are requested to write: Commission for Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), 10302 Eaton Place, Suite 100, Fairfax, Virginia, 22030-2215. The Accreditation Manager for the North Carolina State Highway Patrol is Sergeant Todd M. Koehler and he can be contacted at 919-733-1068.

The assessment team is composed of law enforcement practitioners from three (3) agencies similar to the Patrol, but from other states. The assessors are Colonel (Ret) Tim Hazlette Kentucky State Police, Lieutenant Albert Manint Illinois State Police, and Sergeant (Ret) Eric Borrin Dover Police Department. The assessors will review written materials, interview individuals and visit Highway Patrol offices throughout the state, as well as other facilities where compliance can be observed.

Once the Commission's assessors complete their review of the agency, they report back to the full Commission, which will then decide if the agency is to be granted re-accredited status. Accreditation cycle is for three years, during which time the agency must submit annual reports attesting continued compliance with those standards under which they were 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; call (800) 368-3757 or look them up on the Internet at http://www.calea.org.