Buffalo Grove Police Department Invites Public Feedback

Buffalo Grove residents are invited to share feedback as the Buffalo Grove Police Department undergoes its national accreditation process.

A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement agencies (CALEA) will arrive Nov. 17 to examine all aspects of the department’s policy, procedures, management, field operations and support services. 

“National accreditation is a voluntary process in which we allow our police department to be scrutinized by the assessment team and held to the highest law enforcement standards. This process will assist us in ensuring that we are in position to provide the utmost level of service to our community” Police Chief Steven Casstevens said. 

This will be the seventh re-accreditation for the Buffalo Grove Police Department.

As part of the on-site assessment, agency employees and members of the community are invited to offer comments at a public information session at 3 p.m. Nov. 18, 2013 at the Buffalo Grove Village Hall council chambers.

If an individual cannot speak at the public information session but would still like to provide comments to the assessment team, they may do so by telephone. Members of the public may call (847) 777-6223 from 1-3 p.m. Nov. 19.

Telephone comments at the public information session are limited to 10 minutes and must address the agency’s ability to comply with CALEA standards. Copies of the standards are available at the Buffalo Grove Police Department. Residents may contact Cmdr. Michael Szos, accreditation manager, at (847) 459-2560 to arrange to view the standards.

Those wishing to offer written comments about the Buffalo Grove Police Department’s ability to meet the standards can send them to: Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320, Gainesville, VA 20155

The assessment team is composed of law enforcement professionals 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 all trained and certified by CALEA. The assessors are Chief Brian Childress, team leader, and Captain Margaret Schmidt-Fuller. 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, Szos said.

Accreditation is for a three-year period during which the agency must submit annual reports attesting continued compliance with those standards under which it was initially accredited.

For more information regarding CALEA, write to the commission at Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320, Gainesville, VA 20155 or call (800) 368-3757 or (703) 352-4225.