CV law enforcement gets international honor

GLENDALE — The Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station has nabbed a third place international award for using some of the best law enforcement practices in the United States, officials said.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department officials announced on Saturday that three stations — Palmdale, South Los Angeles and Crescenta Valley — earned top honors from the Altus Global Alliance, a group made up of six non-governmental organizations and academic centers throughout the world.

“I am very proud that our station scored high and received this recognition,” said Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Capt. Dave Silversparre. “It is very much of a team effort among the staff, the so many volunteer programs we have, and the community partnership.”

The three stations were recognized out of 27 U.S. police agencies that participated in the Altus Global Alliance Police Station Visitors Week. Participating residents toured their local stations from Oct.18 to 24 to assess their practices and services.

Visitors had to answer 20 questions and score the station based on its physical conditions, community orientation, detention conditions, treatment of the public, transparency and accountability.

While the sheriff’s department participates annually in the assessment, it was the Crescenta Valley’s first station assessment, Silversparre said.

Twenty-one countries and more than 6,000 visitors participated in the global assessment, according to the group.

Other top international winners included Seme Police Station in Nigeria, Krasnoslobodsky District Police Station in Russia, Sadar Police Station in India and Comisaria No. 38 in Chile and Recife — 14th Police in Brazil.