Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Lancaster police head to CALEA hearing after multi-year accreditation push
Summary
Chief Roper updated council that the Lancaster Police Department completed virtual and on-site assessments for CALEA accreditation, supported by a Department of Justice grant, and will appear at a public hearing in Tucson where the commission will vote on accreditation.
Chief Roper updated the council on a multi-year effort to pursue CALEA accreditation. He said the department entered the process in November 2023, completed a virtual assessment and an on-site review, and produced more than 800 proofs of policy and practice covering the commission's standards. He reported the department applied successfully for a DOJ grant (noted in the meeting as more than $109,000) to support the accreditation work.
The chief said the department met the 166 professional standards required for accreditation and that staff and leadership, including the accreditation manager Gissy Walters and supervisor Sergeant James Howell, would attend the CALEA public hearing in Tucson. The hearing will include commissioner questions about the earlier assessments; the full commission will vote to approve or deny accreditation.
Chief Roper also introduced Captain David Christie as a new member of the Lancaster Police Department and acknowledged patrol captain Dave Crisley. Council members praised the department's work and noted the accreditation helps establish clear standards for officers' interactions with residents. One council member emphasized the desire for consistent standards after prior issues the council had noted.
The council did not take formal action at the meeting; the next procedural step is the CALEA public hearing and the commission's vote in Tucson. The chief said the department will report back to the council after the hearing.
