News Releases

International Accreditation Agency Assessment Team Invites Public Comment

Apr 4th, 2011

Chief Micheal Williams announced today that a team of assessors from the international accrediting agency, Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), will arrive in Mobile on Saturday, April 30, 2011, to examine all aspects of the Mobile Police Department's policy and procedures, management, operations and support services. The assessors are: Captain Jeff Pierce, Oklahoma City Police Department, and Captain Chris Settles, Culpeper (VA) Police Department.

The Mobile Police Department voluntarily submits to the process of verification by the assessment team to ensure that the Department meets all CALEA law enforcement standards to maintain its present accredited status. Sustaining an accredited status is a highly prized recognition of public safety professional excellence, Chief Williams stated. The Mobile Police Department was originally accredited in July of 1994.

As part of the on-site assessment, agency personnel and members of the community are invited to offer comments at a public information session on Monday, May 2, 2011, at 7:00 p.m. the Chief stated. The session will be conducted at Mobile Police Headquarters, 2460 Government Street, Mobile, Alabama, 36606.

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 (251) 208-1873, on Sunday. May 1, 2011, between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.

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 Standards. A copy of the standards is available for examination at Mobile Police Headquarters, 2460 Government Street. For information contact Lieutenant Jim Wilson at (251) 208-1913.

Anyone wishing to submit written comments regarding the Mobile Police Department's ability to comply with CALEA's professional law enforcement standards for accreditation is invited to send them to the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement, Inc. (CALEA), 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320, Gainesville, Virginia, 20155.

The Accreditation Manager for the Mobile Police Department is Lieutenant Jim Wilson. Wilson describes the on-site assessment team as comprised of law enforcement experts from out-of-state agencies. The assessors will scrutinize departmental documents, interview individuals, and visit sites within the MPD where compliance standards can be demonstrated and verified. After the CALEA assessors conclude the evaluation of the Department, they will report their findings to the full Commission, which will determine if the Department will be granted reaccredited status. Lt. Wilson added that accreditation is for three years, during which time the MPD must present annual reports to CALEA demonstrating continued compliance with applicable accreditation standards.

For more information concerning the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), please write the Commission at 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320, Gainesville, Virginia, 20155.