On Wednesday, November 21, 2001, Chief of Police Ron Battelle announced that a team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), will arrive December 15, 2001 to examine all aspects of the St. Louis County Police Department policy and procedures, management, operations and support services.

Chief Battelle stated, "Verification by the team that the St. Louis County Police Department meets the Commission's state-of-the-art standards is part of a voluntary process of accreditation - a highly prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence."

As part of the on-site assessment, agency employees and members of the community are invited to offer comments at a public information session December 17, 2001 at 7:00 P.M. The session will be conducted in the Police Board Room B117, 7900 Forsyth Boulevard, Clayton, Missouri 63105.

If, for some reason, an individual cannot speak at the public information session but would still like to provide comments to the assessment team, he/she may do so by telephone. The public may call (314) 615-1566 on December 17, 2001 between the hours of 1:00 P.M. and 5:00 P.M.

Telephone comments, as well as appearances at the public information session, are limited to ten minutes and must address the agency's ability to comply with CALEA's standards. A copy of the standards is available at St. Louis County Police Department Headquarters, 7900 Forsyth Blvd., Room B120, Clayton, Missouri. Local contact is Mr. Bill Howe, Accreditation Manager, phone (314) 615-7827.

Persons wishing to offer written comments about the St. Louis County Police Department's ability to meet the standards for accreditation are requested to write: Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), 10306 Eaton Place, Suite 320, Fairfax, Virginia 22030-2201.

"The St. Louis County Police Department has to comply with 443 standards in order to retain accreditation status", Chief Battelle said. "The men and women of the County Police Department and many residents of St. Louis County are well aware of the professionalism which exists within our Department. CALEA accreditation not only enhances our reputation as a professional law enforcement agency within St. Louis County but throughout the entire country. The Board of Police Commissioners and I are committed to the continued improvement of our Department. As such, we are committed to the CALEA accreditation process for the St. Louis County Police Department.

The Accreditation 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 offices and other places where compliance can be witnessed. The assessors are:

Team Leader; Captain Dennis Bowman(Retired),Illinois State Police,
Staff Sergeant Mike Derbyshire, Edmonton (Canada) Police Service,
Captain Robert Gross, Austin (Texas) Police Department

"Once the Commission's assessors complete their review of the agency, they report back to the full Commission, which will then decide if the agency is to be granted continued accreditation status," Chief Battelle stated.

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.

For more information regarding the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., please write the Commission at 10306 Eaton Place, Suite 320, Fairfax, Virginia, 22030-2201; or call (800) 368-3757.

LOCAL CONTACT

Bill Howe
St. Louis County Police Department
7900 Forsyth Boulevard
Clayton, Missouri 63105
Phone: (314)615-7827

Media Relations Staff:

Police Officer Rick Eckhard 615-4282

Sergeant James McWilliams 615-3928

Lieutenant Christopher Stocker 615-0184

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