A team of assessors for the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) will arrive on June 24, 2007, to examine all aspects of the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office to include its policy and procedures, management, operations and support services.  The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office must comply with 445 standards in order to be accredited.  Verification by the team that the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office meets the commission's state-of-the-art standards is part of a voluntary process to gain re-accreditation, a highly prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence.

As part of the on-site assessment, agency employees and members of the community are invited to offer comments at a public information session on June 25, 2007, at 7 p.m.  The session will be conducted in the commissioners' hearing room located in the Administration and Courts Building at 100 Jefferson County Parkway in Golden.  If for some reason an individual cannot speak at the public information session, but would still like to provide comments to the assessment team, he/she may do so by telephone.  The public may call 303-271-5157 on June 25, 2007, between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Telephone comments, as well as appearances at the public information session, are limited to 10 minutes and must address the agency's ability to comply with CALEA standards.  A copy of the standards is available at the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.  Local contact is Public Information Director Jacki Kelley at 303-271-5697.

Persons wishing to offer written comments about the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office's ability to meet standards for accreditation are asked to write:  Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), 10302 Eaton Place, Suite 100, Fairfax, Virginia, 22030-2215.

The assessment team is composed of law enforcement practitioners from similar agencies outside of Colorado.  The assessors review written materials, interview individuals, and visit offices and off-site locations where they can review compliance. The assessors are:

Team Leader:     Major Patricia M. Garrison

                           Charleston County Sheriff's Office, Charleston SC

Team Member:   Chief of Police Michael J. Dickey

                           Fairfield Police Department, Fairfield OH

Team Member:   Lieutenant Gregg N. Jones

                           Lexington Division of Police, Lexington KY.

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.

Accreditation is for three years, during which the agency must submit annual reports attesting to continued compliance with those standards under which it was originally accredited. 

For more information regarding the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. please write the Commission at Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), 10302 Eaton Place, Suite 100, Fairfax, Virginia, 22030-2215; or call 800-368-3757.