Athens Clarke County Police Department Undergoing Accreditation Process

Members of the community and employees of the Athens Clarke County Police Department are invited to a 6:30pm public information session on April 23. The meeting is to gather comments about the department.

It’s part of an accreditation process of the ACC PD’s policies and procedures, management, operations and support services. The accreditation is being conducted by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., (CALEA). A Commission team will arrive in Athens on April 22.

The team is trying to verify that the police department meets the Commission’s stringent state-of-the-art standards and is thus worthy of being accredited. Gaining accreditation mean a law enforcement agency has attained professional excellence, according to ACC Police Chief Jack Lumpkin.

Only 900 of 19,000 departments has been accredited by this agency, according to a press release from the police department.

The public information session will be held in the ACC Commission Chambers in City Hall.  Speakers have 10 minutes to state their case. Those who can’t attend may comment, for 10 minutes, by calling 706-613-3888 Extension 400 between the hours of 1pm to 3pm on Monday, April 23re.

The comments should address whether the Athens Clarke County Police Department can comply with the accreditation agency’s standards.  A copy of the standards is available at the Police Department headquarters, 3035 Lexington Rd.  The local contacts are Major Carter Greene at 706-613-3888 Extension 247 and Lieutenant Mark Magnuson at 706-613-3888 Extension 251.

Those wanting to offer written comments about the police department may write: Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320, Gainesville, Virginia  20155.