Accreditation Assessment Team invites public comment

"Verification by the team that the Lombard Police Department meets the Commission's state-of-the-art standards is part of a voluntary process to gain reaccreditation -- a highly prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence," Byrne said.

As a part of the on-site assessment, the public and agency employees are invited to offer comments on the agency's services and performance at a public information session on August 15, 2011 at 5:30 p.m. The session will be conducted in the Village of Lombard Community Room located at 255 East Wilson Avenue, Lombard, Illinois, 60148-3969.

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 (630) 873-4464 between the hours of 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

The telephone comments, as well as those made at the public information session, are limited to 10 minutes and must address the agency?s ability to comply with the Commission's standards. A copy of the standards is available at the Lombard Police Department Accreditation Office. For further information, call Bruce Longino, Accreditation Manager, at (630) 873-4451.

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

The Lombard Police Department has to comply with 464 standards in order to gain accredited status, Byrne said. "Accreditation is an important step in the professionalism of law enforcement. Currently this is optional but I see a time in the future when it will be mandatory, and the Lombard Police Department will already be in compliance at that time," Byrne added.

The assessment team is composed of law enforcement practitioners from similar, but out-of-state agencies, according to Longino. The assessors will review written materials, interview individuals and visit offices and other places where compliance can be witnessed, he added. The assessors are Team Leader, Chief James Carmody of the Wyoming Michigan Police Department and Zeta Fail of the College Station Texas Police Department.

Once the CALEA 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 accredited status, stated Longino.

Accreditation is for three years, during which the agency must submit annual reports attesting continued compliance with those standards under which it was initially accreditted.

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, VA 20155 or www@calea.org or call (800) 368-3757 or (703) 352-4225.