Hattiesburg Police faces accreditation process | News

HATTIESBURG, MS (WDAM)- This week the Hattiesburg Police Department is going through their re-accreditation process.

Assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies are evaluating the department on how the standards needed for accreditation are being complied with. Of the 480-standards needed for accreditation, 379-apply to Hattiesburg, all of which must be met.

To maintain accreditation the department must go through an onsite assessment every three-years.

Of the 20-plus-thousand police departments across the country, only about 1000 are accredited.

"All those agencies have voluntarily entered the process in order to meet the national standards," said Randy Nichols, CALEA Assessor. The best practice standards for law enforcement agencies."

As part of the process some Hattiesburg residents had the opportunity to share their thoughts on the performance of the department.

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