The Mahwah Police Department will be attempting to seek reaccreditation status with the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) in March. A team of CALEA assessors will arrive on March 25, 2012 to examine all aspects of the Mahwah Police Department policy and procedures, management and operations.

Verification by the assessment team that the Mahwah Police Department has met the Commission’s highest standards is part of a voluntary process to maintain accreditation and is a highly prized and sought recognition of excellence in the law enforcement community. During the on-site assessment the assessors will observe the actual practice of agency personnel to assure the policies are followed while our officers perform their tasks. The Police Department must comply with over 400 individual standards on both the state and national level, and the Mahwah Police Department continues to be only one of a handful of law enforcement agencies in the state that has been bestowed with the national accreditation recognition.

The accreditation process includes five phases; enrollment, self assessment, on site assessment, Commission review and decision, and maintaining compliance. The Mahwah Police received their initial accreditation in 2003 and was reaccredited in 2006 and 2009.  According to Chief of Police James N. Batelli, “ the accreditation process through CALEA will build upon our outstanding reputation in the community while complementing and reinforcing our organizational values.”

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 Monday, March 26, 2012 at 7 p.m. The session will be conducted at the Senior Citizen Center located in the lower level of the Richard J. Martel Municipal Complex, 475 Corporate Drive, Mahwah, New Jersey 07430.

The general public and agency employees are also invited to offer comments by calling 201-831-2050 on Monday, March 26, 2012 between the hours of 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Comments will be taken by members of the assessment team.

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 are available at the Mahwah Police Department, 221 Franklin Turnpike, Mahwah, New Jersey. The local contact is Sergeant Robert Curtis and he can be contacted at 201-529-1000 ext 223.

Anyone wishing to submit written comments about the Mahwah Police department’s ability to comply with the standards for accreditation may send them to the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA™)  located at 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320, Gainesville, Virginia, 20155.