Burr Ridge Police Department Seeks Accreditation, Holds Public Meeting

The following was submitted by the Burr Ridge Police Department:

“On April 1, 2013, a team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) will arrive to examine all aspects of the Burr Ridge Police Department’s policies and procedures, management, operations, and support services,” Chief John Madden announced today.

“Verification by the team that the Burr Ridge Police Department meets the Commission’s standards is part of a voluntary process to gain accreditation – a highly coveted recognition of law enforcement professionalism and excellence,” Madden 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 on Wednesday, April 3, 2013 at 6:00 pm. The session will be conducted at the Burr Ridge Police Department Training Room, 7700 County Line Road.

Agency employees and the public are also invited to offer comments by calling (630) 654-8181 Ext. 5180 on Wednesday, April 3, 2013 between the hours of 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm. Comments will be taken by the CALEA assessment team.

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 Burr Ridge Police Department, in the care of Deputy Chief Timothy Vaclav.

Any person wishing to submit written comments about the Burr Ridge Police Department’s ability to comply with the standards for accreditation may send them to the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement, Inc., 13575 Heathcoat Boulevard, Suite 320, Gainesville, VA 20155. The Burr Ridge Police Department has to comply with over 400 standards in order to achieve accredited status. The accreditation process is a method to measure the professionalism of a police department.

The accreditation manager for the Burr Ridge Police Department is Deputy Chief Timothy Vaclav. He said 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 office and other places where compliance can be witnessed. The assessors are Accreditation Manager William Pease of the Nashua New Hampshire Police Department (Team Leader) and Deputy Chief Nicholas Armold of the Huntington Woods Department of Public Safety, Huntington Woods Michigan (Team Member).

“Once the assessors complete their review of the agency, they report their findings to the full Commission, which will then decide if the agency is to be granted accredited status,” Deputy Chief Vaclav said.

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

For more information regarding CALEA, visit calea.org, write to 13575 Heathcoat Boulevard, Suite 320, Gainesville, VA 20155, or call (703) 352-4225.