Township police invite public comment

The Bloomfield Township Police Department is inviting members of the public to weigh in on the law enforcement agency's operations as part of its accreditation assessment process. Bloomfield Township Police Chief Phil Langmeyer said public comments are part of the assessment overseen by the Michigan Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission (MLEAC), which will examine all aspects of the department's policies, procedures, management, operations and support services. "Assessors will spend several days ahead of their visit electronically viewing files, and then two days at our agency on December 2 and 3 verifying that the Bloomfield Township Police Department meets every Michigan Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission 'best practice standard,'" Langmeyer said. "The onsite assessment is a voluntary process to achieve accreditation, a highly prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence." As part of the on-site assessment process, employees and members of the public are invited to provide comments to the team by telephone or email. The public may call 248.723.3580 on December 2 between 10-11:30 a.m. to speak directly to assessors. Comments may also sent via email to jmurphy@bloomfieldtwp.org or directly to the accreditation manager, Neal Rossow, at nrossow@michiganpolicechiefs.org. A copy of the accreditation standards is available at the police department headquarters, 4200 Telegraph Road. "The Bloomfield Township Police Department must comply with 105 standards in order to achieve accredited status," Langmeyer said. "Accreditation results in greater accountability within the agency, reduced risk and liability exposure, stronger defense against civil lawsuits, increased community advocacy and more confidence in the agency's ability to operate efficiently and respond to community needs." The accreditation program was developed and is overseen by the Michigan Association of Police Chiefs. The assessment team includes law enforcement practitioners from similar agencies in Michigan. The assessors review written materials, interview agency members and visit offices and other places where compliance with the standards can be observed. Accreditation is valid for a three-year period, during which agencies must submit annual reports to show continued compliance.