KANSAS CITY, MO. – A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), will arrive April 17, 2010, to examine all aspects of the University of Missouri-Kansas City Police Department’s (UMKC PD) Policies and Procedures, Management, Operations and Support Services, Chief Michael Bongartz announced today.
“Verification by the team that the UMKC 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 law enforcement professional excellence,” Bongartz said.
As part of the on-site assessment, agency employees and members of the community are invited to offer comments at a public information session at 10:00 a.m., Monday, April 19, 2010, in Room 106, University Center, on the UMKC Volker Campus, located at 5000 Holmes in Kansas City, Mo.
If for some reason an individual cannot speak at the public information session but would like to provide comments to the assessment team, he or she may do so by telephone. The public may call (816) 235-1517 between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 18, 2010.
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’s standards. A copy of the standards is available at the UMKC Police Department, 4825 Troost, Kansas City, Mo. For more information, contact Captain Joseph Rucinski at (816) 235-1518.
Persons wishing to offer written comments about the UMKC Police Department’s ability to meet the standards for accreditation are requested to write to: Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), 10302 Eaton Place, Suite 100, Fairfax, Va. 22030-2215.
The CALEA Program Manager for the University Police Department is Stephen Mitchell, who indicated that the assessment team is composed of public safety practitioners from similar, but out-of-state agencies. The assessors will review written materials, interview individuals and visit offices and other locations where compliance can be witnessed.
The assessors are Chief Carel Duplessis, Oakland, Calif. Housing Authority Police Department, and Ms. Denise Linkenhoker, Virginia Tech Police Department.
“Once the CALEA 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 re-accredited status,” said Mitchell.
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 10302 Eaton Place Suite 100, Fairfax, Va., 22030-2215; or call (800) 368-3757 or (703) 352-4225 or email calea@calea.org.
The University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), one of four University of Missouri campuses, is a public university serving more than 14,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students. UMKC engages with the community and economy based on a four-part mission: life and health sciences; visual and performing arts; urban issues and education; and a vibrant learning and campus life experience.