UMass Police Seek Public Comment During Reaccreditation

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AMHERST, Mass. – A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) will arrive in Amherst July 8-10 to examine all aspects of the University of Massachusetts Amherst Police Department’s (UMPD) policies and procedures, management, operations, and support services, Chief Tyrone Parham announced today.

Verification by the team that UMPD meets the commission’s state-of-the-art standards is part of a voluntary process to gain reaccreditation, a sought-after recognition of public safety professional excellence. UMPD was awarded national accreditation in 2012.

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 Tuesday, July 9, at 1 p.m. in the UMass Police Department’s Community Room 24, 585 East Pleasant St., Amherst.

Individuals who cannot speak at the public information session may make comments by telephone to the assessment team. The public may call 413-577-6400 on Tuesday, July 9, between 2-4 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 at the UMass Police Department.

Persons wishing to offer written comments about the UMass Amherst Police Department’s ability to meet the standards for accreditation may send them to Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement, Inc. (CALEA), 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320, Gainesville, VA 20155.

The assessors are team leader former Chief Paul Verrecchia with the College of Charleston of Charleston, S.C. and Kristin Rightler with the Juniper, Fla. Police Department. Once the CALEA assessors complete their review of the agency, they report their findings to the full commission, which will then decide if the agency is to be granted reaccredited status.

Accreditation is for four years, during which UMPD must submit annual reports attesting continued compliance with those standards under which it was initially accredited.