Metro News Release
For immediate release: August 6, 2007
Metro Transit Police pursue professional accreditation
A team of assessors representing the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), will arrive to examine all aspects of the Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD) policies and procedures, management, operations, and support services, and the public is invited to provide input into the review.
Verification by the team that the Metro Transit Police Department meets the commission’s state-of-the-art standards is part of a voluntary process to gain accreditation, a highly prized law enforcement recognition of 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 Aug. 13 from 6 to 8 p.m. The session will take place in the lobby level meeting room at Metro headquarters, 600 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.
If 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. Members of the public may call 202-962-2160 on Monday, Aug. 13, between 1 and 5 p.m.
Telephone comments as well as appearances at the public information session are limited to 10 minutes per person and must address the agency’s ability to comply with CALEA’s standards. A copy of the standards is available for review at Metro headquarters by calling MTPD Officer Linda Foxwell at 202-962-2104.
Individuals wishing to offer written comments about MTPD’s ability to meet the standards for accreditation are requested to write: Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. , 10306 Eaton Place, Suite 320, Fairfax, Virginia 22030-2201.
“The Metro Transit Police Department has to comply with 446 standards to gain accredited status,” MTPD Acting Chief David L. Shaw said.
The accreditation program manager for MTPD is Officer Foxwell. The assessment team is composed of law enforcement practitioners from similar but out-of-state agencies. The assessors will review written materials, interview individuals, and visit offices and other places where compliance can be observed. The assessors are: team leader Major Paul A. Baggett, Chief Wanda Y. Dunham and Major Elaine P. Snow. 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 accredited status.
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 10306 Eaton Place, Suite 320, Fairfax, Virginia, 22030-2201; or call (800) 368-3757 or (703) 352-4225.
News release issued at 12:00 am, August 6, 2007.