Gainesville, VA, December 22, 2022 ─ The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA^®), the Gold Standard in Public Safety, is pleased to announce the creation of three new positions and the subsequent hiring of three Assessment Services Managers (ASM). They are Mr. Bart Connelly, retired Chief of Police for Cape Coral (FL) Police Department; Ms. Jacquie Daumont, retired Chief of Police for Alberta Commercial Vehicle Enforcement in Canada; and William “Billie” Dean retired Deputy Chief of Police for the Virginia Beach (VA) Police Department.

Bart R. Connelly retired as Chief of Police from the Cape Coral Police Department in 2016 after serving with the department since 1988. Throughout his service with the agency, he worked in various organizational components and served as a department trainer, accreditation manager, SWAT Operator, and SWAT Commander. Prior to joining the department, Bart worked for the Orlando Police Department and Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. He has an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Edison College, a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Studies from Barry University, and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Central Michigan University. Bart is a graduate of several executive leadership and management programs including the 240th session of the FBI National Academy, the 10th session of the Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute Senior Leadership Program, and the 35th session of the Police Executive Research Forum Senior Management Institute for Police. He is a member of the Florida Police Chief’s Association and currently serves on the Professional Standards Committee. Bart worked as a CALEA Assessor/Team Leader and served as a CALEA Commissioner and Executive Board member.

Jacquie Daumont served as the Chief for Alberta Justice and Solicitor General, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement, prior to her retirement in 2020. She began her career with the department in 1989 as a patrol officer and worked up through the ranks as Inspector and Deputy Chief, leading the agency to receive CALEA Accreditation in 2001.  She is the recipient of the Governor-General of Canada Exemplary Service Medal, Alberta Peace Officer Long Service Medal, the Alberta Emergency Services Medal, and a Premier Award of Excellence. Chief Daumont was a member of the Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police and served as President of the Canadian Police Accreditation Coalition. She was a CALEA Assessor/Team Leader for fifteen years and most recently served as a CALEA Commissioner from 2020-2022.

Bill Dean retired as a Deputy Chief of Police for the Virginia Beach Police Department.  Bill began his career in 1986 as a police officer recruit and enjoyed a diverse professional experience working through the ranks in the police operations, administration, and investigative divisions with the department.  Originally accredited in 1987, he served as the accreditation manager for the department responsible for revising the agencies policies and administrative processes when the agency withdrew, reenrolled, and achieved accreditation again in 2006.  He has served as a CALEA assessor since 2006 and worked as a team leader for several years prior to his current position as an Assessment Service Manager.  Bill holds a Bachelor of Science in Sociology and Criminal Justice, and Master of Public Administration degrees from Old Dominion University.  He is a graduate of several leadership and executive and management programs.

The addition of these three part-time positions comes as we transition from a total virtual assessment process to a hybrid web-based and site-based assessment model. Although not dissimilar from pre-pandemic assessment operations, each year CALEA’s Client Service Members (CSMs) will conduct web-based file reviews and conduct standards-related interviews. In the fourth year, a site-based assessment will be conducted by a CALEA Assessor. The client impact will be minimal with the four primary changes being 1) One Assessor on-site in nearly all assessments; 2) CSMs will conduct file reviews and standards-related interviews;  3) A web-based portal will replace call-in sessions and public hearings for public feedback on candidate agencies, and 4) The look of CIMRS will be updated with some areas shifting in location.

The ASMs will oversee all facets of the CALEA Assessment Process. This includes assisting with preparations and planning, programmatic and process support during assessment activities, reviewing and approving reports, and debriefing Regional Program Managers and client agencies’ personnel on assessment outcomes.

The knowledge and experience these three bring to CALEA ensure the organization continues to meet its mission of promoting professionalism within the field of public safety. CALEA congratulates and welcomes these individuals as the preeminent leader in the field of public safety accreditation. 

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About CALEA 
The organization was created in 1979 as a credentialing authority. The purpose of CALEA’s programs is to improve the delivery of public safety services, primarily by: maintaining a body of standards, developed by public safety practitioners, covering a wide range of contemporary public safety topics and responsibilities; establishing and administering an accreditation process; and recognizing professional excellence. 

Specifically, CALEA’s goals are to strengthen crime prevention and control capabilities; formalize essential management procedures; establish fair and nondiscriminatory personnel practices; improve service delivery; solidify interagency cooperation and coordination; and increase community and staff confidence in the agency. 

The CALEA Accreditation process is a proven modern management model; once implemented, it presents the Chief Executive Officer, on a continuing basis, with a blueprint that promotes the efficient use of resources and improves service delivery—regardless of the size, geographic location, or functional responsibilities of the agency. 

CALEA Accreditation provides public safety agencies an opportunity to voluntarily demonstrate they meet an established set of professional standards based on industry best practices and approved by an all-volunteer Board of Commissioners.