FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Lt. Barbara D. Domer #103

Accreditation Manager – Frederick Police Department

100 West Patrick Street

Frederick, MD 21701

301-600-2136

ACCREDITATION ASSESSMENT TEAM INVITES PUBLIC COMMENT

Frederick City, Maryland, March 21, 2003 – A team of assessors from the commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), will arrive April 12 to examine all aspects of the Frederick Police Department’s policy and procedures, management, operations, and support services, Chief Kim C. Dine announced today.

“Verification by the team that the Frederick Police Department meets the Commission’s state-of-the-art standards is part of a voluntary process to gain accreditation or reaccreditation – a highly prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence,” he 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 on Monday, April 14 at 7:00 p.m. The session will be conducted in the C. Burr Artz Central Library Community Room located on the First Floor at 110 East Patrick Street, Frederick, Maryland. (Disclaimer - The Library does not promote or endorse the views of the program sponsors of presenters.)

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 (301) 600-2131 on Sunday afternoon, April 13, 2003 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 10 minutes and must address the agency’s ability to comply with CALEA’s standards. A copy of the standards is available at the Frederick Police Department. Local contact is Lt. Barbara D. Domer at (301) 600-2136.

Persons wishing to offer written comments about the Frederick 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 Frederick Police Department has to comply with more than 378 standards in order to gain accreditation Chief Kim C. Dine said. Chief Dine also said that “accreditation is very important to the Frederick Police Department because it is a way of measuring itself against nationally recognized standards and fits perfectly with the City’s commitment to continuous improvement.”

The Accreditation Program Manager for the Frederick Police Department is Lieutenant Barbara D. Domer. She said the 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 - Assistant Chief Roger L. Nash, Chandler Police Department, Chandler, AZ; Lieutenant Philip J. Patrone, Roanoke County Police Department, Roanoke, VA; and Captain Howard W. Niemeier, Newport Police Department, Newport, KY. “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 achieve its accredited status,” Lt. Domer 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 1-800-368-3757 or (703) 352-4225.