DRBA Police Department Seeks Fifth Re-Accreditation

NORTH CAPE MAY – Today, Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA) officials announced that a team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) will arrive August 20, 2011, at the Delaware Memorial Bridge (New Castle, Delaware) to examine all aspects of the Delaware River and Bay Authority Police Department’s policy and procedures, management, operations, and support services. The DRBA Police Department has three troops, one at the Delaware Memorial Bridge complex and two at the Cape May/Lewes Ferry.
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 Paul MacMillan of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Transit Police Department (Team Leader) and Lt. Paul McCurtain of the St. Charles Police Department, St. Charles, Illinois.
“The Authority’s police department must comply with 479 standards in order to become re-accredited,” remarked Colonel Joseph Bryant, Jr., DRBA police administrator. “The national assessment team will verify that our police department complies with CALEA’s state-of-the-art standards. This voluntary process carries with it the highly-prized recognition of professional excellence in law enforcement.”
CALEA commissioners will be notified of the results of the assessment in a detail report by the team leader. In November 2011, the CALEA Board is expected to vote on the DRBA application, which will determine if a re-accredited status will be awarded. The DRBA Police Department has been accredited agency since 1996.
As part of the on-site assessment, DRBA employees and the general public are invited to offer comments that address the department’s ability to comply with CALEA’s standards. Questions regarding the standards and a copy of the CALEA Standards Manual can be answered or received by the DRBA Accreditation Office, Master Cpl. Kristen Todd, at (302) 571-6431.
On August 22, 2011, the public may call (302) 571-6426 between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to speak to a member of the assessment team. Telephone comments will be limited to ten minutes per call and must address the police department’s ability to comply with CALEA’s standards.
Individuals wishing to offer written comments about the Delaware River and Bay Authority Police Department’s ability to meet the standards for accreditation are requested to write CALEA at the following address:
Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA)
13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320
Gainesville, Virginia 20155
or email calea@calea.org.
Once re-accredited, the police department must submit annual reports to CALEA attesting to its continued compliance with those standards. At the end of a three-year period, the Delaware River and Bay Authority Police Department will seek re-accreditation once again. For more information on accreditation, please call CALEA at (703) 352-4225.