HARRISON —
A team of assessors from the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police (NJSACOP) will arrive April 28 to examine all aspects of the Harrison Police Department’s policies and procedures, management, operations and support services, Chief Derek J. Kearns announced.
“Verification by the team that the Harrison Police Department meets the commission’s ‘best-practice’ standards is part of a voluntary process to maintain accreditation, a highly prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence,” Kearns said.
As part of the final on-site assessment, employees and members of the general public are invited to provide comments to the assessment team. They may do so by telephone or email. The public may call 973-268-2471 on April 29 between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Email comments can be sent to emarkowski@townofharrison.com.
Telephone comments are limited to five minutes and must address the agency’s ability to comply with the NJSACOP’s standards. A copy of the standards is available for inspection at the Harrison Police Department, 318 Harrison Ave., Harrison.
Contact Lt. Edward Markowski at 973-483-4100 for additional information.
Anyone wishing to offer written comments about the Harrison Police Department’s ability to comply with the standards for accreditation is requested to email the Accreditation Program manager at hdelgado@njsacop.org or write the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission, 751 Rt. 73 N., Suite 12, Marlton, N.J. 08053.
The Harrison Police Department must comply with 105 standards in order to maintain its 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,” the chief said.
The accreditation program manager for the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police is. Harry J. Delgado.
“The assessment team is composed of law-enforcement practitioners from similar New Jersey law-enforcement agencies,” Delgado said. “The assessors will review written materials, interview agency members and visit offices and other places where compliance with the standards can be observed. Once the commission’s assessors complete their review of the agency, they will report to the full commission, which will then decide if the agency is to be granted continued accredited status.
Each accreditation is valid for a three-year period during which time the agency must submit annual reports attesting to continued compliance with the 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 accrediting agency in New Jersey. For more information on the Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission, write the commission at New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission at 751 Rt. 73 N., Suite 12, Marlton, N.J. 08053 or email hdelgado@njsacop.org.
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