May 13, 2008

Shaker Heights Police Department

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT

D. Scott Lee, Interim Chief of Police

3355 Lee Road

Shaker Heights, Ohio 44120

216/491-1240

ACCREDITATION ASSESSMENT TEAM INVITES PUBLIC COMMENT

(Shaker Heights/Cuyahoga County, Ohio, May 5, 2008)---A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) will arrive May 17, 2008 to examine all aspects of the Shaker Heights Police Department policy and procedures, management, operations and support services, Interim Chief D. Scott Lee announced today.

“Verification by the team that the Shaker Heights 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 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 Monday, May 19, 2008, at 7:00 p.m. The session will be conducted in the Shaker Heights Municipal Court, Courtroom 1, located at 3355 Lee Road.

If, for some reason, an individual cannot speak at the public information session, but would like to provide comments to the assessment team, he/she may do so by telephone. The public may call 216/491-1280 on Monday, May 19, 2008 between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 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 Shaker Heights Police Department, 3355 Lee Road. The local contact is Interim Chief D. Scott Lee, 216/491-1240.

Persons wishing to offer written comments about the Shaker Heights Police Department’s ability to meet the standards for accreditation are requested to write: Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), 10302 Eaton Place, Suite 100, Fairfax, Virginia 22030-2215.

The Shaker Heights Police Department has to comply with 357 standards in order to gain accredited status, Interim Chief Lee said.

The Accreditation Program Manager for the Shaker Heights Police Department is Detective Colleen Ritchie, Management Information Officer. 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 Chief Michael Yaniero, Jacksonville (NC) Police Department, Lieutenant Darrell Birdett, University of Texas, Austin (TX), and Lieutenant Christopher Ciuci, Berlin (CT) Police Department. “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,” Detective Ritchie 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 10302 Eaton Place, Suite 100, Fairfax, Virginia 22030-2215; or call 800/368-3757 or 703/352-4225.