By Stu Johnson
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Lexington residents have offered a national accreditation organization their views on the city's police force. Monday night's meeting was part of the department's national re-accreditation process with CALEA.
About 20 people showed up to the meeting hearing. Of that number, fewer than ten addressed the assessment team. East Third Street resident Thomas Tolliver praised police for their work in his neighborhood.
"I commend the police department for trying to create a rapport with the people of that neighborhood where police have not been well received for a number of years, for a number of problems, for a number of reasons and they are taking steps to correct that," said Tolliver.
A few individuals expressed concerns over specific criminal cases. Team member Paul Baggett says such comments are not unusual.
"We give it back to the agency and say this person needs to have some closure, needs some further follow up, and then the organization takes care of that."
Baggett's team is preparing a report for the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Incorporated. Word about Lexington's accreditation should come in November.