The Township of Union Police Department has received its initial law enforcement accreditation and is now an “Accredited Agency”, after a more than a two year process. Administered by the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, the accreditation program requires agencies to comply with best practice standards in five basic areas: the administrative function, the personnel function, the operations function, the investigative function, and the arrestee/detainee function.
The department must comply with more than 100 standards in order to achieve accredited status. Accreditation results in greater accountability within the agency, reduced risk and liability exposure, stronger defense against civil lawsuits, increased community advocacy, and more confidence in the agency’s ability to operate efficiently and respond to community needs. Verification by the team that the Township of Union Police Department meets the Commission’s “best practice” standards is part of a voluntary process to achieve accreditation, a highly prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence.
“We, on the Township Committee, are extremely proud of the work our police officers and their leadership do on a daily basis” stated Mayor Manuel Figueiredo, “This accreditation is validation of the respectful and diligent job performed by the men and women on our force for many years.” Police Commissioner Clifton People was proud that “under the supervision and direction of Director Zieser the Police Department has become extraordinarily proficient as witnessed at the May 26th Township Committee Meeting where they received the assessment award.”
A team of assessors from the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police (NJSACOP) examined all aspects of the department, its policies and procedures, management, operations, and support services, during an on site inspection in the fall of 2014. The assessment team is composed of law enforcement practitioners from similar New Jersey law enforcement agencies. The assessors reviewed written materials, interviewed agency members, and visited offices and other places where compliance with the standards were observed. Once the Commission’s assessors completed their review of the agency, they reported to the full Commission, which then decided to grant accredited status on March 19, 2015.
Accreditation is valid for a three-year period during which time the agency must submit annual reports attesting to their continued compliance with those standards under which it was initially accredited.
The New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police through its New Jersey Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission is the legitimate authority and accreditation agency in the state of New Jersey. The Accreditation Program Manager for the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police is Mr. Harry J. Delgado.
