Bismarck residents will have the chance to tell an accreditation team how the police department is complying with 459 standards.

The Bismarck Police Department has been accredited since 1991 and is one of two law enforcement agencies in the state accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies. The state Highway Patrol also is accredited by CALEA. Accreditation is voluntary for departments.

Accredited departments are reassessed every three years. Bismarck Police Department was last examined in 2005.

A team of CALEA assessors will be in Bismarck April 14 to 16. The three-member team is made up of law enforcement professionals from out-of-state agencies that are similar to the Bismarck Police Department. The assessors will review written materials, interview people, visit with officers and conduct inspections to check the department's compliance with standards.

Community members are invited to offer comments to the assessment team during a public information session April 16 at 6:30 p.m. The session will be in Meeting Room B at the Bismarck Public Library, 515 N. Fifth Street. Anyone who cannot attend the session can call 355-1980 on April 15 between 1 and 3 p.m. to provide comments.

Comments are limited to 10 minutes, whether in person or on the telephone, and must address the Bismarck Police Department's ability to comply with CALEA standards. A copy of the standards is available by contacting Officer Charles Wegener, the department accreditation manager, at 355-1867.

Written comments can be sent to The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc., 10302 Eaton Place, Suite 100, Fairfax, Va., 22030-2215.

After the assessors finish their review of the department, they will report back to the commission. The commission will decide whether to renew the department's accreditation.

(Reach reporter Jenny Michael at 250-8225 or jenny.michael@bismarcktribune.com.)