The NJ Police Chief Magazine Volume 24, Number 5 | Page 13

The New Jersey Police Chief Magazine | May 2018 NJSACOP LEAP COMMISSION HOLDS SPRING HEARING AND AWARDS SIXTEEN AGENCIES ACCREDITATION STATUS By Harry J Delgado, Ed.S. NJSACOP Accreditation Program Director Accreditation is completely voluntary, but those who seek it are held to the absolute highest standards of law enforcement excellence. Agencies expressed their sense of accomplishments upon achieving accredited status; “The program proved to be of the highest standard under your leadership and that of NJSACOP”, “elite status” others say, “It is truly a momentous achievement for not only the Chief and I, but for our agency and community as well” and “the process has been fair, challenging and very rewarding”. On April 19 th sixteen (16) law enforcement agencies were invited to appear in front of the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police Accreditation Commission to state their case in pursuit of accreditation after months of undergoing the rigorous process. Some agencies have invested years in pursuit of excellence by following accepted state and national best practices in law enforcement. As a way to introduce themselves agency Chiefs and their representatives were asked to share the history of their agency, especially anything unusual or unique, comments about their service with the department and that of their accreditation manager, future issues confronting the agency, any unusual service or program that the Chief is particularly proud of relating to their department. Finally they were asked to comment about their experience with the NJSACOP Law Enforcement Accreditation Program. Following the introductions the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police Accreditation Commission reviewed the reports and testimony of these sixteen law enforcement agencies seeking either accreditation or reaccreditation in the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police Law Enforcement Accreditation Program (NJSACOP LEAP). The standards used to determine whether or not a police agency may become accredited reflect the current thinking and experience of law enforcement researchers and experts. The following agencies received reaccreditation: the Wall Township Police Department, the Maplewood Police Department, the Manalapan Police Department, the Ocean Gate Police Department, the Kinnelon Police Department, the Butler Police Department, the Saddle River Police Department, the Deal Police Department, and the Sea Girt Police Department. The Bernards Township Police Department and the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office were awarded their second reaccreditation. The Perth Amboy Police Department, the Burlington City Police Department, the Hackensack Police Department, the Little Egg Police Department, and the Asbury Park Police Department received their initial accreditation. Law enforcement associations, leading educational and training institutions, government agencies, and insurance agencies have all acknowledged that any police agency who receives an accreditation certification is holding itself and its officers to the absolute highest standards in the industry. To date close to two hundred agencies have received accredited status through NJSACOP LEAP. information about our program I may be reached at [email protected]. 12 For more