The University of Pennsylvania Police Department (UPPD) is scheduled for an on-site assessment as part of a program to retain its accredited status with the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). The assessment is to verify that the police department is in compliance with professional law enforcement standards.

Administered by CALEA, a nonprofit organization based in Fairfax, Va., the accreditation program requires agencies to comply with state-of-the-art standards in four basic areas: policy and procedures, administration, operations, and support services.

Agency employees and the general public are invited to offer comments by calling 215-573-6675 on Wednesday, Nov. 4 between noon and 2 p.m. Employees and members of the community may offer comments at a public information session on Thursday, Nov. 5, beginning at 12:30 p.m. in the UPPD Headquarters Building, 4040 Chestnut St. During both events, comments will be taken by the on-site assessment team.

All comments 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 UPPD Headquarters Building. The local contact is Lieutenant Michael Belisairo, accreditation manager, who may be reached at 215-573-5681.

Anyone wishing to submit written comments about the UPPD’s ability to comply with the standards for accreditation may send them to the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement, Inc. (CALEA), 13575 Heathcote Blvd., Suite 320, Gainesville, Va. 20155.