LEWISTON – A team of three police officials from around the country will rate the Lewiston department in August.

It will be the third time since 1995 that the Lewiston Police Department has been reviewed by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, according to Lewiston Chief Bill Welch.

“A good rating means our policies and standards are among the best in the country,” Welch said.

Boca Raton Chief of Police Andrew Scott; Grandview, Mo., Deputy Chief Larry Dickey; and Milford, Ohio, Chief Larry Lantam will begin their evaluation of Lewiston on Aug. 23 and should finish their review on Aug. 27. They’ll issue a report in November.

They will evaluate the department on 443 policies, Welch said.

“Those cover anything that has to do with the operation of the department, from transporting prisoners to writing reports,” he said. “They’ll look at all of the equipment we have and the ways we use it.”

The accreditors will review police records, interview officers and meet with the public. A special information session is scheduled for 7 p.m. Aug. 25 in Lewiston City Hall.

A large number of people showed up for the last public accreditation session, Welch said.

“It’s just an outlet that’s available to the public to see how we’re really operating. They need to make sure we really are sticking to the polices, year to year.”

The city has also set up a special telephone comment line, open from 1 to 5 p.m. Aug. 25. Team members will take calls from the public at 777-2373 during those four hours.

“That’s for people that either can’t make it out or don’t feel comfortable talking in public,” Welch said.

Lewiston was first certified by the commission in 1995 and recertified its credentials in 2000. The department is one of two agencies accredited by the commission in Maine. The Portland Police department is the other agency.

[email protected]