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Accreditation Assessment Team invites public comment A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc. (CALEA), will arrive on Sept. 18 to examine all aspects of MUSC's Department of Public Safety's policy and procedures, management, operations and support services.    “Verification by the team that the Department of Public Safety 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,” said Chief Charles Wiley, director of the Department of Public Safety.    As part of the on-site assessment, MUSC employees, staff, students and the community are invited to offer comments on Monday, Sept. 20. Participants can call 792-0371 between the hours of 1 and 5 p.m. Comments will be taken by the Assessment Team.   Telephone remarks are limited to 10 minutes and must address the agency's ability to comply with CALEA's standards. A copy of the standards is available at the Department of Public Safety Building on Doughty Street. Local contact is Deputy Chief Ronald J. Underwood who also serves as the agency's accreditation program manager.    Anyone wishing to submit written comments about the Department of Public Safety's ability to comply with the standards for accreditation may send them to CALEA.   Earlier in May, an accreditation team organized a mock inspection—a preview of the real event—which confirmed the department's complete compliance.    “We were ecstatic,” said Underwood. “There's an attitude about law enforcement agencies where special purpose police are viewed as less than real police. Attaining accreditation through CALEA measures us up to and against the best major metropolitan and state law enforcement agencies in the country.”    The Department of Public Safety must comply with 439 national standards in order to gain accredited status.    “It has long been true that universities and hospitals must attain accredited status in order to ensure customers that they aspire to the highest standards of professionalism and service delivery,” said Wiley. “We look forward to the challenges we face in achieving and, thereafter, maintaining accreditation through the commission.”          The assessment team is composed of law enforcement practitioners from similar but out-of-state agencies. The assessors will review written materials, interview individuals and visit officers and other places where compliance can be witnessed.    Assessors are: Chief Darrell L. Fant, team leader and director of the Highland Park (Texas) Department of Public Safety; Col. John L. Cunningham, chief of police, Newcastle County (Del.) Police Department; and Sgt. Sean Kelly, Durham (N.H.) Police Department. Once the commission's assessors complete their review of the agency, they will report back to the full commission, who will decide if the agency is to be granted accredited status.    Accreditation is valid for a three year period. During this time, the agency will submit annual reports attesting to continued compliance under the same standards which qualified accreditation.   To submit written comments or for further information, contact the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc., 10306 Eaton Place, Suite 320, Fairfax, Va., 22030-2201.