DGPD Seeks Public Input for Re-Accreditation

As the nears the finish line of its three year effort for re-accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, the public's input is needed when accreditation representatives come to town next week.

On Monday, November 14, at 6 p.m., the public is invited to attend a meeting at and share their opinions and comments on DGPD. Accreditation assessors will be in attendance, and the meeting is a vital step in the accreditation process.

According to Marion Heintz, the Public Education manager for the police department, CALEA accreditation—which the DGPD has had since 1990—creates standards for just about everything DGPD does, including hiring, training, policy, operations and more.

The accreditation itself puts the DGPD in line with other law enforcement agencies across the country, helping to create a universal set of standards that agencies everywhere can look to and follow, Heintz said.

All told, there are 483 different standards the police department had to address over the past three years while applying for re-accreditation, and addressing the standards doesn't end when accreditation is reached.

“You have to prove you've been following every one of those standards,” Heintz said. “We can't just do our own thing and think it's okay.”

During the assessors' on-site visit to Downers Grove—they'll be in town from November 13 to November 16—they'll pour over every aspect of the police department operation, including meeting with school and park districts, downtown management and even participating in ride-alongs with DGPD officers.

Then, at some point after the visit, the accreditation assessors will send the DGPD a 25-page report highlighting their findings in advance of the DGPD's appointment with the accreditation commission during a conference in Alabama in March. And whatever problems there may be, the DGPD will have to resolve them before the appointment.

“You better be squared away when you go to the commission,” said DGPD Lt. Michael Willison.

The budgeted costs for CALEA this fiscal year are $6,500, according to Doug Kozlowski, the Village of Downers Grove's communications director. The $6,500 covers annual fees, dues and the cost of the assessors visit to Downers Grove. Next year, the village will pay an annual fee of $4,500.

If you can't make Monday's meeting, you can also offer comments by calling (630) 434-5629 on Monday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.. Those comments will be taken by the assessment team. Comments, whether by phone or during the meeting, will be limited to 10 minutes in length.