The NJ Police Chief Magazine Volume 25, Number 3 | Page 18

The New Jersey Police Chief Magazine | March 2019 NJSACOP LEAP STANDARDS MANUAL 2019 (Formatting Update) Harry J. Delgado, Ed.S. Accreditation Program Director The response to the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police Law Enforcement Accreditation Program (NJSACOP LEAP) revised accreditation standards has been extremely positive. The additional standards represent and address contemporary issues in law enforcement. As we approach the first quarter 2019, agencies are working diligently to demonstrate compliance. Law Enforcement in New Jersey is undeterred and committed to achieving excellence in policing. I would like to share three items which have been part of recent conversations within our “Standards Manual Community”. The New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police Law Enforcement Accreditation Program (NJSACOP LEAP) accreditation standards manual has been republished with a formatting update, Accreditation Program Standards 1 st Edition 2019 (Formatting Update). See example of reformatted standard 1.9.8 below. Furthermore, as a matter of clarification see the two items below: 1.3.3 A written directive addresses the agency's procedures for drug screening its personnel. Clarification Statement: Agencies can address pre-employment drug screening, reasonable suspicion drug screening and/or random drug screening in compliance with contemporary criminal procedures. The drug screening standard does not require an agency to drug screen its civilian personnel and was intended for sworn personnel only to coincide with NJ Attorney General Directive N0. 2018-2. 1.6.2 (SLEOs) Clarification Statement: Agencies should consider a mandatory wearing policy for personnel involved in field duties (bullet b). Special Law Enforcement Officers or Auxiliary Police Officers, who work in a seasonal capacity or in an emergency situation, must be included in this requirement if their duties expose them to risks similar to regular full-time personnel. Agencies may require SLEO and/or auxiliary police personnel to purchase body armor as a condition of their employment or service. Body armor can be obtained through a variety of sources including, but not limited to: agency budget, private donations, endowments, grants, foundations, unions, etc. The standards are available on PowerDMS for subscribers of Power Standards. The application package, process manual, annual report, and other relevant documents have been uploaded on PowerDMS and will be accessible soon for our member agencies. For additional information I may be reached at [email protected]. 17