Sergeant Graham H. Denio, Sr.
Office of Professional Standards

Sergeant Denio is responsible for the operations of the Office of Professional Standards. Sergeant Denio is a graduate of Mercer University’s Public Safety Leadership Institute and Columbus State University’s Professional Management Program. Sergeant Denio is a certified instructor in defensive tactics, firearms, emergency medical, and speed detection devices. Sergeant Denio is also a Six Sigma Certified Green Belt.

The Morrow Police Department is currently a Georgia Association of Chief’s of Police Certified Agency. The Morrow Police Department has been certified since 2001. State Certification is a progressive and time-proven way of helping law enforcement agencies calculate and improve their overall performances. The foundation of certification lies in the promulgation of standards containing a clear statement of professional objectives. Participating agencies conduct a thorough self-analysis to determine how existing operations can be adapted to meet these objectives. When the procedures are in place, a team of trained assessors verifies that applicable standards have been successfully implemented. The process culminates with a decision by a joint executive committee that the agency has met the requirements for certification.

Certification status represents a significant professional achievement. Certification acknowledges the implementation of policies and procedures that are conceptually sound and operationally effective. The Morrow Police Department has been certified since 2001.

The Morrow Police Department has begun the process of becoming a CALEA Internationally Accredited Agency. This process normally takes up to three years, however the Morrow Police Department hopes to complete the process in only two years. The purpose of CALEA’s Accreditation Program 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 up-to-date public safety initiatives; 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 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 (CEO), 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.

This accreditation program provides law enforcement agencies an opportunity to voluntarily demonstrate that they meet an established set of professional standards.

These standards include:

Require an agency to develop a comprehensive, well thought out, uniform set of written directives. This is one of the most successful methods for reaching administrative and operational goals, while also providing direction to personnel.

Provide the necessary reports and analyses a CEO needs to make fact-based, informed management decisions

Require a preparedness program be put in place - so an agency is ready to address natural or man-made critical incidents

Are a means for developing or improving upon an agency's relationship with the community

Strengthen an agency's accountability, both within the agency and the community, through a continuum of standards that clearly define authority, performance, and responsibilities

Can limit an agency's liability and risk exposure because it demonstrates that internationally recognized standards for law enforcement have been met, as verified by a team of independent outside CALEA-trained assessors

Facilitates an agency's pursuit of professional excellence

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Training is an important aspect for officers to keep abreast of concerning current trends and case law. The Morrow Police Department offers specialized and general training at the department. Every officer in the department is given the opportunity to attend DUI Detection and Standardized field sobriety training. Over 80% of the officers employed with the Morrow Police Department are now certified to properly conduct the advanced DUI detection processes learned in this training. This training has enabled our department to increase the number of DUI arrests by over 100% in 2006. Every officer in the department is given the opportunity to attend training to receive the radar speed detection certificate and Lidar (laser) speed detection certificate. All personnel receive National Incident Management System. Several officers are enrolled in the Professional Management Program and Command College through Columbus State University. Total Training Hours For The Year 2005 2006 2007 4,129 4,199 6,200

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The Morrow Police Department Reserve Unit consists of volunteers that are Georgia POST Certified Police Officers. These Officers volunteer in many functions of the police department. All reserve officers must meet the same qualifications as full time personnel. Morrow Police Department Reservist volunteered over 2,000 hours to the City of Morrow last year. Persons interested in becoming reservists may contact Sgt. Graham Denio at gdenio@cityofmorrow.com or 770-961-4006.

Lieutenant Waldrop	Sgt. C. Slater

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Genesis McDowell is a new addition to the OPS Unit in 2008. Ms. McDowell serves as the Assistant Certification and Accreditation Manager. She has previous law enforcement experience working in the Warrant and Civil division of Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office. She is also our Agency GCIC Terminal Agency Coordinator (TAC). She is responsible for insuring that all required personnel have their GCIC certification, and the monthly GCIC validations.

Volunteers in Policing Services Since September 11, 2001, the demands on state and local law enforcement have increased dramatically. As a result, already limited resources are being stretched further at a time when our country needs every available officer out on the beat. The City of Morrow Police Department is turning to civilian volunteers to supplement their sworn force. These vital efforts will receive new support through the Volunteers in Police Service Program (VIPS). VIPS draws on the time and considerable talents of civilian volunteers and allows law enforcement professionals to better perform their frontline duties.
	The Program will provides resources to assist local law enforcement officials by incorporating community volunteers into the activities of the law enforcement agency, including a series of best practices to help state and local law enforcement design strategies to recruit, train, and utilize citizen volunteers in their departments. The Morrow Police Department is proud to be a sponsor of the Volunteers in Policing Services initiative. Persons interested in volunteering should contact Sgt. Graham Denio at gdenio@cityofmorrow.com.
Cee Viola - Volunteer Coordinator

As a part of the training function of the Morrow Police Department, all Cadets are assigned to OPS prior to completing the basic law enforcement training course.

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City of Morrow Mission Statement:
"To create and maintain an environment that provides ethical leadership, exceptional services, and the highest quality of life for the citizens, employees, and customers of the City of Morrow."

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