NEWS RELEASE

4/11/2008

AGENCY: NORMAL POLICE DEPARTMENT
OFFICER IN CHARGE: CHIEF KENT CRUTCHER
LOCATION: NORMAL, IL. POLICE DEPARTMENT
CONTACT: PAT BARNES, ACCREDITATION MANAGER
TELEPHONE: 454-9532

Accreditation Assessment Team Invites Public Comment

A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., will arrive on April 19, 2008 to examine all aspects of the Normal Police Department's policy and procedures, management, operations and support services.

Verification by the team that the Normal Police Department meets the Commission's state-of-the-art standards is part of a voluntary process to gain reaccreditation--a highly prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence. The Normal Police Department has to comply with 459 standards in order to gain accredited status.

As a part of the on-site assessment, the public and agency employees are invited to offer comments on the agency's services and performance at a public information session on April 22, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. The session will be conducted in the Normal City Hall Council Chambers located at 100 E. Phoenix Avenue.

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 454-9537 on April 22, 2008 between the hours of 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Telephone comments as well as those made at the public information session are limited to 10 minutes and must address the agency's ability to comply with the CALEA standards. For further information regarding the CALEA standards, contact Pat Barnes at 454-9532.

Persons wishing to offer written comments about the Normal Police Department's ability to meet the standards for accreditation are requested to write: Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., 10302 Eaton Place, Suite 100, Fairfax, VA 22030-2215.

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: Chief William New, Charleston, SC, Capt. Douglas Goodman, Ashland, VA, and Lt. Shawna Williams, Knoxville, TX.

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 accredited status.

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. Normal has maintained it’s accredited status since 1994.

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 www.calea.org.