South
Carolina Department of Public Safety
South
Carolina Department of Public Safety
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 20, 2010
Contact: Sid Gaulden
803-896-8409
803-600-8119
SCDPS
ANNOUNCES ON-SITE ACCREDITATTION
ASSESSMENT
The accreditation program requires law enforcement
agencies to comply with professional standards in the following areas: policy
and procedures, administration, operations and support services.
As part of the on-site assessment, agency
employees and the public are invited to offer comments by calling the assessment
team at 1-800-868-3613 on Monday, April 26, between the hours of 2 p.m. and 4
p.m.
Persons wishing to offer written comments may send
them to the Commission on Accreditation for law Enforcement Agencies, Inc.
(CALEA),
Verification by the team that DPS meets CALEA
standards is part of a voluntary process to gain accreditation – a highly prized
recognition of law enforcement excellence.
SCDPS Director Mark Keel noted that the CALEA
assessment “is s a very thorough inspection of the Department of Public Safety
from the top down. Assessors from agencies across the country will review
everything we do to determine whether or not we meet the exacting CALEA
criteria.”
Keel added that passage of the CALEA assessment
would demonstrate that SCDPS is a, “professionally run law enforcement
organization and that we are meeting nationally recognized law enforcement
standards.”
Law enforcement practitioners from similar
agencies in other states will review written materials, interview individuals
and visit DPS facilities and other places where compliance can be witnessed.
Once the assessors complete their review of the agency they will report back to
the full Commission, which will then decide if DPS is to be granted
accreditation.
In order to maintain their accredited status, law
enforcement agencies must undergo re-accreditation every three years to ensure
continued compliance with CALEA standards. DPS was first accredited by CALEA in
1998.
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