The Peachtree City Police Department is working toward re-accreditation again, and the agency is again seeking comments from the public on the agency’s services and performance.
This year, the department is aiming to meet higher expectations via the “Gold Standard” accreditation process, which involves an assessment of not just policing standards, but also how they are put into everyday practice, officials said.
Anyone with comments on how police measure up to those standards may be heard in person Monday, Aug. 27 at 6 p.m. at City Hall, or in advance by telephone earlier the same day between 1-3 p.m. by calling 770-632-4100.
All comments are limited to five minutes each and must address the agency’s ability to comply with standards set forth by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) Inc. Written comments may also be submitted via mail to Commission on Law Enforcement Agencies Inc., 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320, Gainesville, Va. 20155.
A team of assessors will examine all aspects of the department, focusing on areas such as policies and procedures, administration, operations and support services. The assessors are charged with verifying that the police department meets the commission’s state of the art standards, officials said.
A copy of those standards is available Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 pm. at police headquarters at 350 Ga. Highway 74 south. For more information, contact accreditation manager Capt. Rosanna Dove at 770-632-4105 or by email at rdove@peachtree-city.org.
Chief H.C. “Skip” Clark said the department is “excited” about taking part of the new Gold Standard accreditation process.
“This ensures that the department meets the highest standards in law enforcement and professional excellence,” Clark said.
The assessors who will visit the city, speak with officers and interact with the public are Chief Bernard “Jay” Murphy of the Cape Coral, Fla. Police Department and Synthia Nugent of Wilmette, Ill. Police Department. They will report back to the CALEA commission which will decide whether or not to grant the department its re-accreditation status.
The Peachtree City Police Department won its first accreditation on Nov. 21, 1992 and has continued to maintain those standards ever since. For more information on CALEA, contact program manager Dennis Hayter at 13575 Heathcote Blvd, Suite 320, Gainesville, Va. or by phone at 703-352-4225.
