A team of out-of-state assessors will arrive in August to verify compliance with the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA®) Standards. Verification by the team will again show that Arlington meets the highest standards in law enforcement. These standards must be met in order to maintain the Arlington Police Department's accredited status.

The Department was accredited by CALEA® in November 1989 for a 5-year period. It was re-accredited for another 5 years in November 1994. The department began a three-year cycle after being reaccredited in November 1999 and received its most recent re-accreditation award in November 2011. The Arlington Police Training Center was individually accredited in March 2010 and reaccredited in March 2013. The Law Enforcement and Training Center assessments will be combined for the next on-site scheduled for August 9-12, 2015.

As part of the on-site assessment, agency employees and members of the community are invited to offer comments regarding the Department's compliance with CALEA® standards at a public hearing Monday, August 10, 2015, beginning at 6:00 p.m. at the West District Community Room located at 2060 West Green Oaks Boulevard. Anyone unable to attend the hearing may reach the members of the assessment team by phone from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Monday, August 10, 2015 at 817-459-6040 or by mail any time to the CALEA® office located at 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320 Gainesville, Virginia 20155.

Telephone comments, as well as appearances at the public hearing, are limited to 10 minutes and must address the agency's ability to comply with the CALEA® Law Enforcement and Training Academy standards. Copies of the standards will be available for review by appointment beginning July 22, 2015. Please call (817) 459-5313.

The CALEA® Law Enforcement Accreditation Team arriving in Arlington will include Lead Assessor, Chief Vincent Line of Arapahoe County, Colorado Sheriff's Office; and Major Humberto Cardounel of Henrico County, Virginia Police Department. The Training Academy assessment will be led by Mr. David Hobson of Lexington, Kentucky.

If re-accredited, the Police Department and Training Center will continue to be on a 4-year cycle for re-assessment, and annual reports will continue to be submitted to CALEA® attesting continued compliance with standards. For more information, contact the Arlington Police Department or the CALEA® office at the above address.