Public can comment before Roseville police re-accreditation

ROSEVILLE — A team of assessors will examine the Roseville Police Department in depth next week, but before that, employees and members of the general public are being asked to provide comments on the department.

On Dec. 11, the team of assessors from the Michigan Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission, or MLEAC, will examine all aspects of the department — including policies, procedures, management, operations and support services — Roseville Police Chief Mitchell Berlin announced in a press release.

Verification that the department meets the MLEAC’s standards is part of a voluntary process, Berlin said in the press release. The accreditation is a “highly prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence,” he said.

To receive the accreditation, the Roseville Police Department must comply with 108 standards. The assessment team is composed of law enforcement practitioners from similar Michigan law enforcement agencies.

According to Ron Wiles, the accreditation program director for MLEAC, the assessment team will review written materials, interview agency members and visit offices and other places where compliance with the organization’s standards can be observed.

“Once the assessors complete their review of the agency, they will report to the full commission, which will then decide if the agency is to be granted accredited status,” he said.

The accreditation is valid for a three-year period, during which the department is required to submit annual reports attesting to continued compliance.

“Accreditation results in greater accountability within the agency, reduced risk and liability exposure, stronger defense against civil lawsuits, increased community advocacy and more confidence in the agency’s ability to operate efficiently and respond to community needs,” Berlin said in a prepared statement.

Carolyn Czech, a senior team member for the Roseville Neighborhood Watch group, said the re-accreditation is important.

“It shows that they care,” she said. “Having policies, procedures and instructions, internal audits and so forth in place to make improvements to ensure that the public safety comes first, I think it’s great. … I applaud the department for doing that.”

As part of the assessment, members of the public are invited to provide comments to the assessment team, either by email or phone. A copy of the standards available for inspection are available at the department, located at 29753 Gratiot Ave. in Roseville.

To leave a comment by telephone, call (586) 447-4500 between 2 and 4 p.m. on Dec. 11. Telephone comments are limited to five minutes and must address the agency’s ability to comply with the commission’s standards. Comments can also be emailed to wiles@michiganpolicechiefs.org.

Czech, who works in the automotive industry, said the accreditation process could be useful in other organizations, such as fire departments and businesses.

“There’s always room for continual improvement,” she said. “It’s good to have some kind of documentation for some kind of root cause analysis or how to correct problems, instead of just putting a Band-Aid on it.”