A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA®) will arrive on Monday, August 20, 2012, to examine all aspects of the MBTA Transit Police Academy’s policy and procedures, management, operations, and support services. The MBTA Transit Police Academy is striving to be the first accredited academy in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

"Verification by the team that the MBTA Transit Police Academy meets the Commission’s state-of-the-art standards is part of a voluntary process to gain accreditation – a highly prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence", Chief Paul MacMillan stated.

As part of the on-site assessment, academy personnel and members of the community are invited to offer comments to the assessment team by telephone by calling 617 222-1154 on Tuesday, August 21, 2012, between the hours of 10:00am and 12:00pm. Telephone comments are limited to 10 minutes and must address the agency’s ability to comply with CALEA standards. A copy of the standards is available by contacting Officer Roberta Spinosa at 617-222-1014, at MBTA Transit Police Headquarters at 240 Southampton Street, Boston, MA 02118.

"Compliance with the Accreditation Standards is an indication that the MBTA Transit Police Academy meets professionally recognized criteria for excellence in management and service delivery." Chief MacMillan added.

The assessment team is composed of public safety practitioners from out-of-state agencies. The assessors will review written materials, interview individuals, and visit offices and locations where compliance can be witnessed.

The assessors are retired Captain John "Russ" McElwee, who is from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, North Carolina and Captain Carl Schinner from the Greenbelt Police Department, in Greenbelt, Maryland.

Once the CALEA assessors complete their review of the agency, they report back to the full Commission, which will then decide if the agency is to be granted accredited status.

For more information regarding the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., please write the Commission at 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320, Gainsville, Virginia, 20155; or call (800) 368-3757 or (703) 352-4225 or www.calea.org.