Release posted on 02-10-22 at 8:36 a.m.

Assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) will be conducting a virtual assessment of the St. Petersburg Police Department on March 14 -16, 2022, to examine all aspects of the Department's policy and procedures, management, operations, and support services. This assessment is part of the process for re-accreditation.

Also, for the first time, the St. Petersburg Police Department's Emergency Communications Division is seeking CALEA Public Safety Communications Accreditation. The Public Safety Communications Accreditation Program provides a communications center, or the communications unit of a public safety agency, with a process to systemically review and internally assess its operations and procedures. Assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) will be conducting a virtual assessment of the St. Petersburg Police Department's Emergency Communications on March 14 - 15, 2022, to examine all aspects of the Emergency Communications Division's policy and procedures, management, operations, and support services. This is the initial accreditation review for the St. Petersburg Police Department's Emergency Communications Division.

During the assessment, agency personnel and members of the community are invited to offer comments on the St. Petersburg Police Department as well as its Emergency Communications Division.

The CALEA assessors will host a Virtual Public Hearing on Monday, March 14, 2022, at 6 P.M. The Virtual Public Hearing will take place using ZOOM. The public is invited to provide comments about the St. Petersburg Police Department and/or its Emergency Communications Division to the CALEA assessors. Those interested in attending the Virtual Public Hearing are invited to log on to:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89715288779
Webinar ID: 897 1528 8779

If you would like to speak at the Public Hearing, please contact Accreditation Manager Deborah Furka at Deborah.Furka@stpete.org no later than 12 Noon on Monday, March 14, 2022 to be added to the speaker's list.

If someone is unable to attend the Virtual Public Hearing but would like to provide comments to the CALEA assessors on either the on the St. Petersburg Police Department and/or its Emergency Communications Division, they may do so by telephone on Monday, March 14, 2022, from 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM by calling 727-893-4900 . These telephone calls will not be screened or recorded.

Public Hearing and telephone comments are limited to ten (10) minutes and must address the St. Petersburg Police Department's and/or its Emergency Communications Division's ability to comply with CALEA standards. Please go online at http://www.calea.org/ to view information on the standards.

Additionally, comments can be sent to the CALEA Commission at 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320, Gainesville, VA 20155.

Accreditation is for four years, during which the agency must submit annual reports, and participate in annual remote web-based assessments attesting continued compliance with those standards under which it was initially accredited. For more information regarding the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. please write the Commission at 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320 Gainesville, Virginia 20155; or call (703) 352-4225 or email calea@calea.org .