The emblem of the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office is seen at the Hamilton County-Chattanooga Courts Building.Residents will have a chance to critique or praise the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office at a public meeting on Nov. 15 as the agency seeks re-accreditation from a national association.
Inspectors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies will visit the sheriff’s office between Nov. 13 and Nov. 16 to determine whether the office still meets the nonprofit organization’s standards.
The inspectors want to hear Hamilton County residents’ opinions about the sheriff’s office – good or bad – to help determine how the office interacts with the community.
The organization sets voluntary standards for law enforcement agencies on policy and procedures, administration, operations and support services. The sheriff’s office was accredited for the first time in 2013 and this is the first time the agency has been up for re-accreditation, which is required every three years, said Gino Bennett, director of support services.
“CALEA is very concerned about our relationship with the community,” he said. “They actually want to know from the public how we are doing.”
The sheriff’s office complies with 484 standards to be accredited by the organization, spokesman Matt Lea said in a release. The CALEA inspectors will look at the sheriff’s policies, procedures, management, operations and support services while they’re in town for the re-accreditation process, he said.
Bennett said the sheriff’s office spent at least two years working toward accreditation before earning it in 2013. He said the accreditation increases accountability and transparency at the agency.
“The big thing about CALEA is you not only have to make sure you have these polices and procedures in place, but you must prove by the collection of data, from reports to photographs, that yes, this is indeed what you are doing and here’s the proof of it. You can’t just say you’re doing it; you have to prove to [the organization] that you are doing it.”
The public meeting will be held at 4 p.m. on Nov. 15 at the sheriff’s West Annex at 6233 Dayton Blvd. Each resident will be given 10 minutes to speak.
Residents who would like to give feedback also can call the CALEA assessors between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Nov. 15 at 423-209-8924. Alternatively, written comments can be mailed to CALEA at 13575 Heathcote Blvd., Suite 320, Gainesville, VA 20155.
About 1,000 law enforcement agencies are accredited through CALEA. In Tennessee, 28 city police departments are accredited, as well as five county sheriff’s offices.
The Chattanooga Police Department has been accredited since 2001.
Contact staff writer Shelly Bradbury at 423-757-6525 or sbradbury@timesfreepress.com with tips or story ideas. Follow @ShellyBradbury.