Published November 26 2013
A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) will arrive Monday, Dec. 2, to examine all aspects of the Bellevue Police Department's policy and procedures, management, operations and support services.
Verification by the team that the department meets the Commission's standards is part of a voluntary process to retain accreditation -- a highly prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence.
As part of the on-site assessment, agency employees and members of the community are invited to offer comments at a public information session Tuesday Dec. 3, at 6 p.m. The session will be conducted at City Hall, 450 110th Ave N.E. in room 1E-111.
If for some reason an individual is unable to attend 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 425-452-2566, on Dec. 3, between 2 and 4 p.m.
Telephone comments as well as appearances at the public information session are limited to five minutes, and must address the agency's ability to comply with CALEA's standards. A copy of the standards is available at the Bellevue Police Department. The local contact person is Public Information Officer Carla Iafrate, 425-452-4129.
Persons wishing to offer written comments about the department's ability to meet the standards for accreditation should write: Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), 13575 Heathcote Blvd., Suite 320, Gainesville, VA 20155.
The Bellevue Police Department was initially accredited in 2004. In 2010, CALEA gave the department its highest rating and deemed it a "flagship department." This marks the third cycle of reaccreditation, which occurs every three years.