Accreditation assessment team invites public comment on patrol

The Missouri State Highway Patrol is about to enter the accreditation process and is looking for public feedback.
Missouri State Highway Patrol
Verification by the assessor that the MSHP meets the commission’s stringent standards is a vital part of a voluntary process to maintain accreditation — an esteemed recognition of law enforcement professionalism and excellence.
As part of the on-site assessment, the MSHP seeks feedback regarding its services and performance. The public is invited to visit the patrol’s website, www.statepatrol.dps.mo.gov, to register a comment. On the patrol’s website, choose the Show-Me Accountability Portal to access a link located under the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc. icon. The link provides a comment form for feedback regarding the CALEA standards. The public may also access the CALEA comment portal via this link https://cimrs2.calea.org/98 or through the patrol’s social media accounts.
People wishing to offer written comments about the ability of the MSHP to meet the standards for accreditation are requested to write to the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc., 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 160, Gainsville, VA 20155.
“Our employees are true professionals who are held to high standards,” said Col. Olson. “Adhering to the CALEA standards is a way for the Missouri State Highway Patrol to be accountable to our stakeholders.”
Jessica Mealy, accreditation manager for the MSHP, said the assessor, Caren Sterling of Richmond, Virginia, is a law enforcement practitioner from a similar but out-of-state agency. The assessor will review written materials, interview individuals, and visit patrol facilities and other locations where compliance can be witnessed.
The assessor will report back to the commission after completing their review of the agency. The commission will then decide whether the MSHP is to be granted continued accredited status. Accreditation is for four years, during which time the agency must submit annual reports attesting continued compliance with the standards under which they were initially accredited. The MSHP has been accredited since 1992.
For more information regarding the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc., inquiries may be addressed to the commission at 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 160, Gainsville, VA 20155, by telephone at 703-352-4225, or by visiting their website at www.calea.org.