National accreditation team to assess Sheriff’s Office

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A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), will arrive March 10, to examine the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office policy and procedures, management, operations, and support services.

“Verification by the team that Anderson County Sheriff’s Office meets the Commission’s state-of-the-art standards is part of a voluntary process to obtain accreditation – a highly prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence,” Sheriff Skipper said, in announcing the inspection.

As part of the on-site assessment, agency employees and members of the community are invited to offer comments at a public hearing Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at 6:00 p.m. The session will be conducted at the W. Clyde Stone Building, located at 1019 David Lee Coffee Place, Anderson.

For those unable to attend the evening’s public hearing, comments can be made to the assessment team on Tuesday afternoon, March 12 by calling 260-4355. This phone line will be available for call-ins between the hours of 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Telephone comments as well as appearances at the public hearing are limited to 10 minutes and must address the agency’s ability to comply with the CALEA standards. A copy of the standards is available at the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, Office of Professional Standards, at 1019 David Lee Coffee Place, in Anderson. For questions, contact Accreditation Coordinator Sgt. Sheila Cole at 260-6333.

Persons wishing to offer written comments about the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office’s ability to meet the standards for accreditation are requested to write the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), 13575 Heathcote Blvd., Suite 320, Gainesville, VA 20155.

The assessors are: Major Paul Baggett with the Polk County Florida Sheriff’s Office and Captain Phillip Dunn with the Alcoa Tennessee Police Department. The Sheriff’s Office has to comply with over 400 standards in order to retain accredited status.

The CALEA program manager for the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office is Myra Mitchell. She said the assessment team is comprised 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. 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.