A team of assessors from the Commission on the Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., (CALEA) completed an audit of the Charles County Sheriff’s Office in late August in which a detailed inspection of the Sheriff’s Office and public comments session were conducted. During the inspection portion of the on-site audit, the assessors examined the Sheriff’s Office’s policies and procedures, management, operations and support services. Among its standards CALEA requires a set of well-thought written directives, a well-developed system of internal reporting used to provide the Sheriff with fact-based information upon which to make management decisions, and a preparedness program for all types of emergencies. After this extensive review, the CALEA assessors have determined the Charles County Sheriff’s Office is eligible for “Flagship Status,” a designation that is designed to acknowledge CALEA Accredited public safety agencies that have demonstrated success in the accreditation process.  The program also serves to provide other agencies seeking accreditation with examples of “best practices” on how to address compliance, policy development, file maintenance, and other issues relating to the accreditation process.  The Flagship Agency designation is effective for the duration of the current award period.

The assessors were Chief Roy Liddicott, from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., who served as the team leader and Lieutenant John Dolan, from Hillsboro, Mo. The assessors reviewed written materials, interviewed individuals and visited offices and other places where compliance with CALEA standards were to be observed.

CALEA assessors are recruited from some distance away from the agency to be assessed in order to maintain the objectivity of the assessment process. CALEA was established in 1979 as a credentialing authority through the International Association of Chiefs of Police, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, National Sheriffs’ Association and Police Executive Research Forum. For more information about CALEA visit its website, http://www.calea.org.

The Sheriff’s Office was initially accredited in 2001 and was successfully audited in 2004 and 2007. For more information about the Sheriff’s Office, visit its website, http://www.ccso.us.

This is an extremely prestigious accomplishment for the Sheriff’s Office. It appears that Sheriff Coffey was successful at “raising the bar” in contrast to CALEA inspections conducted during prior administrations. A law enforcement agency is given Flagship status indicating it’s operating standards, policies, and administration are a role model for other police agencies to follow.

It’s kinda funny that an independent organization who’s mission is to put police agencies under a microscope and evaluate them, rate the CCSO as a distinguished role model for other police agencies to follow. Yet, Dave Williams seems to try and convince everyone the place is in shambles. Completely independent assessors with no political ties or personal relationships with any of the employees, traveled to Maryland and and scrutinized the CCSO from top to bottom. They found not a single issue to score a discrepancy or recommendation for improvement.

This information should clear up some of the smoke and mirrors that Dave Williams has been pushing in his negative campaign. For those of you who are looking for facts, well this is about as solid as it gets.

This is a wonderful accomplishment.  It should be front page news for the Maryland Independent !  Sheriff Coffey and the men and women of the CCSO should be commended ! 

The list of accomplishment continues!

Lower crime rates
Balanced Budget
High Morale
More cops on the Street
FLAGSHIP CALEA rating!

Congratulations Sheriff Coffey on a job WELL DONE!

Here’s the Sheriff’s Office press release on Facebook:

After an extensive on-site audit by the Commission on the Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), the Charles County Sheriff’s Office is a contender for the Commission’s highest honor — Flagship Agency — according to preliminary results of the assessment, announced Sheriff Rex W. Coffey.

Agencies marked by the Flagship status are considered the best of the best; when law enforcement agencies begin seeking accreditation, CALEA refers them to the Flagship agencies so planners can observe “best practices,” according to CALEA officials. The Sheriff’s Office was first accredited in 2001 and although it maintained its accredited status in audits in 2004 and 2007, this marks the first audit in which the Agency has been a flagship contender.

“This is about as good as it gets,” said Chief Roy Liddicott of the Broward County Sheriff’s Office in Florida and one of two assessors from CALEA who came to the agency for the assessment. “The Charles County Sheriff’s Office is run by good people who have a great deal of passion and it shows.”

Lt. John Dolan, Commander of the Professional Standards Unit from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, in Jefferson County, Missouri, said, “We interviewed the Sheriff, his command staff, officers, civilian employees and people out in the community and the general consensus is that the Agency brings about a high level of professionalism to Charles County.”  Both assessors reviewed more than 400 standards and found zero file-maintenance issues and zero applied-discretion issues.

“To achieve this status is remarkable,” said Sheriff Coffey, “and it’s a testament to the work performed day in and day out by our dedicated employees,” Coffey said. “Under the leadership of Captain Rob Cleaveland, Commander of Executive Services, the direction of Mr. Danny Johnson, Deputy Director of Planning and Accreditation and with assistance from Ms. Carol Davis and Ms. Reagan Henehan, Civilian Planners in Planning and Accreditation, the Agency met a standard that’s difficult to achieve.” 

“During the static display and facility tour on Sunday morning, the assessors were exceedingly impressed with all of our facilities, processes, operations and personnel,” said Johnson. “Each person they talked with was professional and remarkably knowledgeable about Agency operations and their jobs.  Later, during their stay, the assessors talked with many sworn and civilian personnel throughout the Agency and they attended roll calls and went on a ride-along at each district station. They were truly impressed with everyone they met,” said Johnson.

WHAT IS CALEA? The CALEA on-site assessment provides an independent, objective peer review of the agency’s programs and practices, allowing for constructive feedback for further improvements. And, the peer review is an excellent forum for sharing ideas. The assessors, all experienced law enforcement professionals, bring ideas from their own agencies and from other agencies they’ve reviewed.

The assessment process requires an agency to undergo an in-depth review of its management, administration, operations, and support services in comparison to professional standards. When the agency identifies a deficiency, it creates or revises policies and procedures to correct the situation before a problem occurs.

WHY IS ACCREDITATION SO IMPORTANT? CALEA standards require the agency to establish a reporting process for monitoring and measuring performance. This ensures continual growth and improvement and a method to confirm an agency is practicing what it has established in the written directives system.

“As an agency leader, I look forward to these assessments as a report card.  This is essential information as our Agency faces the challenges of the next century,” said Sheriff Coffey.

CALEA audits accredited agencies every three years to ensure the agencies continue to meet the Commission’s many standards of professional excellence.

This is real news that the citizens of Charles County should be made aware of.  Shame on the Md Ind for not writing about this prestigious accomplishment.

The bottom line is the crime rate in Charles County is busting at the seams.  If you check “searchcrimereports”, you’ll be appalled with the number of crimes that occur at the mall, around the mall, St. Charles, and the escalation of the crime around
La Plata.

It is no wonder why the Independent doesn’t broohah hah over a report which is just reminisce of the reporting that has been done on the CCPS system.  Go out and ask the people how safe they feel in Waldorf. How about all the thefts, assaults, and sexual predators that live around Waldorf and La Plata.

Maybe the Independent has reporters with a concious that cannot simply lie their way into some sort of perverted paradise.
People are moving out of Charles County in droves.  The political structure is in shambles.  La Plata is taxing the hell out of the county residents.  If we get some decent, constitutionally abiding politicians in office, you’ll see the area turn into a ghost town.

euler - 14 September 2010 07:03 AM

The bottom line is the crime rate in Charles County is busting at the seams.  If you check “searchcrimereports”, you’ll be appalled with the number of crimes that occur at the mall, around the mall, St. Charles, and the escalation of the crime around
La Plata.

It is no wonder why the Independent doesn’t broohah hah over a report which is just reminisce of the reporting that has been done on the CCPS system.  Go out and ask the people how safe they feel in Waldorf. How about all the thefts, assaults, and sexual predators that live around Waldorf and La Plata.

Maybe the Independent has reporters with a concious that cannot simply lie their way into some sort of perverted paradise.
People are moving out of Charles County in droves.  The political structure is in shambles.  La Plata is taxing the hell out of the county residents.  If we get some decent, constitutionally abiding politicians in office, you’ll see the area turn into a ghost town.

You’re joking right? We have double digit reductions in crime and you can say with a straight face crime is “busting at the seams?” I’d hate to see how you described crime before Coffey took office.

As far as crime at and around the mall… 60 thefts. Man, you’re right, I am appalled.

La Plata—and Charles County for that matter—“taxing the hell out of the county residents” has nothing to do with, and no bearing on the status of the Sheriff’s Office. If you have an issue with taxes, you have an issue with our elected Commissioners.

What is a concious?  Anybody out there know ?

Nice try, euler.

Your last ditch attempt to sabatoge a good man failed miserably. I am sure if you search a while you can find whatever rock Dave Williams has crawled back under and join him.

I am so sick of sleeze-ball politics in this county!

Politicians take heed - if you don’t have a platform and your only stategy is to smear the people who have poured their soul into this county, we, the voters will send you away defeated with your tail between your legs.