A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA®), will arrive November 13 to examine all aspects of the Towson University Police Department’s policy and procedures, management, operations, and support services, Chief Bernard J. Gerst announced today. Verification by the team that the Towson University 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 public safety professional excellence, he said.
As part of the on-site assessment, agency personnel and members of the community are invited to offer comments during a public information session on Monday, November 14, 2016 starting at 5 p.m. in the University Union, Chesapeake III (UU Room 304), Towson University, Towson, MD 21252.
Individuals who cannot attend the public information session may provide comments by telephone. The public may call 410-704-6531 on Monday, November 14 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and speak with a member of the assessment team.
Telephone comments and appearances at the public information session are limited to 10 minutes and must address the agency’s ability to comply with CALEA Standards. A copy of the standards is available at the Towson University Public Safety Building during normal business hours. Please contact Mr. Bruce Robins, Police Planner at 410-704-5730 to schedule a time to review the standards.
Persons wishing to offer written comments about the Towson University Police Department’s ability to meet the standards for accreditation are requested to write: Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320, Gainesville, VA 20155 or www.calea.org.
The Towson University Police Department has to comply with 370 standards in order to gain accredited status said Chief Bernard J. Gerst. “The students, faculty, staff and visitors to Towson’s campus expect and deserve to be served and protected by a police department that is current and operates in line with the best practices of the police profession. By undergoing the intense scrutiny and evaluation of the accreditation process we want to assure the public we serve that we meet those challenging standards.”
Accreditation is for four 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 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320 Gainesville, Virginia 20030-2215; call (703) 352-4225, or email calea@calea.org.
