(LONDON, Ohio) — The Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA) will undergo a four-day, on-site evaluation to ensure compliance with the Public Safety Training Academy Accreditation Program. A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) will conduct the assessment, which begins March 25 and includes a call-in, public comment period on March 27, 2013.
In order to maintain its accreditation status, OPOTA must comply with 160 professional standards. While on campus the assessors will review agency policies and practices, interview personnel, observe training classes and closely examine files maintained by OPOTA.
As part of the on-site assessment, agency employees and the general public are invited to offer comments regarding OPOTA by telephone. The public may call (800) 346-7682 or (740) 845-2650 on March 27, 2013, between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Telephone comments are limited to 10 minutes and must directly address OPOTA's ability to comply with CALEA standards. An overview of CALEA standards can be found on CALEA's Website at www.calea.org.
The CALEA assessment team is composed of public safety practitioners from out-of-state agencies. OPOTA originally became accredited through CALEA in July 2004. All CALEA accredited agencies are reassessed every three years.
For more information about OPOTA, please visit: www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov/OPOTA.
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Media Contacts:
Dan Tierney: 614-466-3840
Jill Del Greco: 614-466-3840