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CASE #7 (Issue #65: September 1997) Submitted by Chief Jim Murray, Peachtree City (Georgia) Police Department Chief Jim Murray served 16 years with the Savannah (GA) Police Department before taking command of Peachtree City Police Department in 1989. (Peachtree City is a fast growing community south of Atlanta). Once on board, he immediately began the process of accreditation. Peachtree City Police Department was first accredited in 1992 and reaccredited in 1997.
Case in point: My agency was sued in federal court for an arrest that centered around a domestic disturbance which resulted in physical contact with the suspect. In the civil suit that was filed, the suspect attacked the following areas: Use of Force Arrest Procedures, Hiring and Retention, Handcuffing, Background Investigation, Training, Supervision, and Customs and Policy. This case was tried in front of a jury and the result was a finding for the officer. This verdict took a total of twenty minutes of deliberation. The jury stated that the high quality of the accredited policies and procedures of this department left no doubt in their minds that this department holds itself to the highest standards that are available to police departments today. This also holds true for the checks and balances that are required by CALEA standards to ensure compliance.Many of the issues of this case were settled prior to trial by summary judgment based on evidence submitted during the pre-trial phase. The major portion of this evidence was the policies and procedures that had been approved by CALEA. The judge based each summary judgment that was issued on the quality of the procedures that were in place, and our ability to prove our compliance with the standards. Accreditation Works! If you live the standards and apply them as they should be, you will have the same results if you face these issues in court.
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The number one question I am asked, by both citizens and other
law enforcement professionals regarding national accreditation, is how
does having standards that have been approved by CALEA protect you in
the event that you are sued in court. Any Chief of Police Officer who
has been through a trial that attacks your polices and procedures will
attest to the fact that being accredited will have a profound effect on the
outcome of the trial.
