Norwalk police department gets 'real good going over'

By John Nickerson
Staff Writer Posted: 12/22/2008 01:00:00 AM EST

NORWALK - An inspection of the police department last week by a Virginia firm that assesses procedures, management and operations appears to have been a success, Police Chief Harry Rilling said.

The team from the Commission on Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies Inc. arrived in Norwalk more than a week ago to determine whether the department meets 460 standards.

Before the three inspectors left on Wednesday, they told him they will recommend accreditation to the 21 commissioners who will decide in March, Rilling said.

The department has been accredited through the commission since 1995. It is one of 16 police agencies in Connecticut, including state police and New Canaan police, to meet the standards, according to the commission's Web site.

Norwalk's last accreditation was in May 2006.

Steve Mitchell, program manager of the commission, said it is "likely" it will accredit Norwalk.

"The department there is walking the walk and talking the talk as far as our standards," Mitchell said Friday from his office in Fairfax, Va.

Rilling, who has been a team leader during 21 accreditation inspections for the commission, said Norwalk's accreditation team, led by Lt. Timothy Murphy, Sgt. Susan Holland and Detective Melissa Lepore, prepared the department well.

The inspectors rode with police officers, interviewed state Superior Court Judge Burton Kaplan and Supervisory Assistant State's Attorney Robert Hall, and inspected the dispatch center, property room and other areas.

"They gave us a real good going over," Rilling said.

Accreditation costs $15,000 over three years, Rilling said.

"The main thing is the community has the confidence that our policies and procedures have been developed by the best minds in law enforcement," he said. "Our procedures have been drafted to comply with the standards of this professional organization. The community can have a great deal of confidence knowing that our officers are held to these standards."

- Staff Writer John Nickerson can be reached at john.nickerson@scni.com or 750-5307.