The New Jersey Police Chief Magazine | March 2018
ACCREDITATION : PROTECTING LAW ENFORCEMENT
By Harry J . Delgado , Ed . S NJSACOP LEAP Accreditation Program Director
In today ’ s complex society , police agencies are subject to continuous scrutiny from the courts , the press , and the public . But today , I would like to focus on scrutiny from the press , in particular a series of high profile articles that were widely published in newspapers here in New Jersey . Under the premise that millions of dollars are paid out in “ secret settlements ”, the articles take aim at police internal affairs process and investigators , use of force , sex with minors , and in general a lack of accountability . The message is delivered effectively in a way that it can connect with the public , i . e . “ tens of millions of your tax dollars kept these abuses quiet , until now .”
This is not “ fake news ” folks ; whether you agree with it or not , these articles cast a shadow in law enforcement operations . They feed into public perceptions and opinions . I know first-hand , as I receive comments from the public from time to time that espouse these beliefs .
My context is of course Law Enforcement Accreditation . Is Accreditation an effective process to address these issues ? This is a time when many police agencies are now seeking accreditation as a way of assuring the public that the agency meets the highest standards for professionalism , training and discipline . As many have said – exactly what all of us expect from our law enforcement officers .
An accreditation program has long been recognized as a means of maintaining the highest standards of professionalism in a given industry . The New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police Law Enforcement Program was formed by the NJSACOP for the purpose of developing and administering a law enforcement agency accreditation program for police agencies within New Jersey . The Program is intended to provide law enforcement agencies in New Jersey an avenue for demonstrating that they meet commonly accepted standards for the efficient and effective operation of that agency . For these reasons several agencies have successfully sought and achieved accreditation after a critical event .
Accreditation is a process , not a one-time event ! It requires compliance with best state and national law enforcement practices , including those mentioned in the recent series of news articles . For accreditation to be effective you must make a commitment to maintain your agency ’ s compliance over time .
Law enforcement executives that choose to have their agencies accredited under this voluntary program have examined all aspects of their operation . They have made conscious decisions about policies and procedures that fit the law enforcement requirements of their jurisdictions and have implemented those policies and trained their employees in their use .
An agency must ensure the integrity of this process so that Accreditation can offer stronger protection from liability and citizens ’ complaints , strong support from government officials and confident in the agency ’ s ability to operate efficiently and meet community needs , increased community advocacy , and greater accountability within the agency .
We need to anticipate that some of the issues raised by the press will end up at our door . We are committed to protecting the Accreditation process so that it can effectively help protect law enforcement .
For more information about NJSACOP LEAP I can be reached at hdelgado @ njsacop . org .
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