There are some who would say the Bluffton Police receiving accrediation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies board in 2009 was nothing less than laughable. They went through the accrediation process faster than any department previously. Others might say the accredidation made it harder to control a bad police chief. But, nonethelss the town of Bluffton has invited public comments as part of a regular assessment of the police department.
A news release said the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies is assessing the Bluffton Police Department “to verify that BPD continues to comply with best practices and internationally accepted professional law enforcement standards.”
“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,” the town said. ”
Personnel and community members “are invited to offer comments at a public information session” starting at 6 p.m. Aug. 8. The release said the comment session will end after the last speaker is heard.
“The session will be conducted via Microsoft Teams with the assessors,” the town said, adding that the link will be provided on its social media channels. CALEA assessors also will accept calls from commenters from 1-3 p.m. Aug. 8 at 843-706-4598.
Written comments can be sent to Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) 13575 Heathcote Blvd., Suite 320, Gainesville, Virginia, 20155.
Residents can apply on online at https://www.townofbluffton.sc.gov/FormCenter/Police-11/Citizens-Police-Academy-80. For more information, contact Sgt. Craig Karafa (ckarafa@townofbluffton.com) or Lt. Mike Danyov (mdanyov@townofbluffton.com).
Bluffton Police Chief Stephenie Price has resigned, after less than two years as chief. When Price was hired in 2020 she was the department’s fourth chief in three years.