MEDIA RELEASE

July 27, 2009

Contact: Captain B. Weimer

 Office (573) 882-5923
 Cellular (573) 999-1979

ACCREDITATION ASSESSMENT TEAM INVITES PUBLIC COMMENT

University of Missouri Police, July 27, 2009 – A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), will arrive Aug. 1, 2009 to examine all aspects of the University of Missouri Police Department’s Policies and Procedures, Management, Operations and Support Services, Captain Brian Weimer announced today.

Verification by the team that the MU 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 law enforcement professional excellence, he said.

As part of the on-site assessment, agency employees and members of the community are invited to offer comments at a public information session at 12:15 p.m., Monday, Aug. 3rd in room South 110 of the Memorial Union on the University of Missouri Campus located at 518 Hitt Street in Columbia Missouri.

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 or she may do so by telephone.  The public may call (573) 882-5926 between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 2nd.

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’s standards.  A copy of the standards is available at the University of Missouri Police Department.  For more information contact Captain Brian Weimer at (573) 882-5923.

Persons wishing to offer written comments about the University of Missouri Police Department’s ability to meet the standards for accreditation are requested to write: Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), 10302 Eaton Place, Suite 100, Fairfax, VA 22030-2215.

The University Police Department has to comply with 357 standards in order to gain re-accredited status, Captain Brian Weimer said. 

The CALEA Program Manager for the University Police Department is Stephen Mitchell.  He said the assessment team is composed of public safety practitioners from similar, but out-of-state agencies.  The assessors will review written materials, interview individuals, and visit offices and other locations where compliance can be witnessed.

The assessors are: Chief Gregory King and Mr. Mark Balazik.

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 re-accredited status, Steve Mitchell stated.

Accreditation is for three years, during which the agency must submit annual reports 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 10302 Eaton Place Suite 100, Fairfax, Virginia, 22030-2215; or call (800) 368-3757 or (703) 352-4225 or email calea@calea.org 

MUPD 10-2009