BUCKHANNON — A site-based assessment team from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., or CALEA, is scheduled for a virtual on-site assessment on April 5^th and 6^th to examine all aspects of the Buckhannon Police Department’s policy and procedures, management, operations, and support services, Chief Matthew Gregory announced this week.

Verification by the team that the Buckhannon Police Department meets the Commission’s state-of-the-art standards is part of a voluntary process to gain accreditation—a highly prized recognition of public safety professional excellence.

As part of the assessment, agency personnel and members of the community are invited to offer comments at a public information session on April 5^th at 7:00 p.m. The session will be conducted in the Buckhannon Public Safety Complex Community and Training Room located at 24 S. Florida St., Buckhannon.

If for some reason an individual cannot speak at the public information session but would still like to provide comments to the assessment team, he/she may do so by telephone.  The public may call (304) 704-8355 on April 5^th between the hours of 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 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 CALEA Standards.

A copy of the standards is available at the Buckhannon Police Department.  Local contact is Chief Matthew Gregory.  Persons wishing to offer written comments about the Buckhannon Police Department’s ability to meet the standards for accreditation are requested to write: Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement, Inc. (CALEA), 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320 Gainesville, Virginia 20155.  

The Buckhannon Police Department has to comply with 161 standards in order to gain accredited status,” Chief Matthew Gregory said.  “CALEA accreditation is an important endeavor for the Buckhannon Police Department as it ensures the delivery of each of our services adhere to best practices and thus enables the professional capabilities of the police department,” said Chief Gregory.

Accreditation is for four years, during which the agency must submit annual reports, and participate in annual remote web-based assessments attesting continued compliance with those standards under which it was initially accredited.

For more information regarding the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. please write the Commission at 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320 Gainesville, Virginia 20155; or call (703) 352-4225 or email calea@calea.org.