Amid so much negative news, here’s some good news: Lyndhurst PD achieves prestigious re-accreditation

The Lyndhurst Police Department has been re-accredited by the New Jersey Chief’s Association’s Law Enforcement Accreditation Program, Det. Sgt. Vincent Auteri, the Lyndhurst PD’s public-information officer announced recently.

“The Lyndhurst Police Department is excited to announce that on March 23, 2020, we received notification that we have achieved re-accreditation through the prestigious New Jersey Chief’s of Police Association (NJSACOP) Law Enforcement Accreditation Program,” Auteri said. “Earning accreditation is considered a distinguished honor in the field of public safety.

“This distinction sanctions a standard of professionalism by our department’s men and women and places our agency in the highest tier of law enforcement agencies throughout New Jersey.

Chief Richard L. Jarvis says he is thrilled by the renewed accreditation distinction.

“Receiving this accreditation from the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police speaks to the incredibly high standards of professionalism, transparency and accountability to which we hold our department,” Jarvis said.

Seeking accreditation is a voluntary process that requires agencies to submit proof of compliance with hundreds of professional standards measured in exacting detail by a team of independent assessors.

The assessment of these professional standards provides for a high level of transparency and commitment to an objective review of the police department’s policies, procedures and operating standards.

The process concluded March 16, 2020, with an in-depth, on-site assessment, interviews of department personnel and a ride-along with officers in the field to verify that policies and procedures were in place.

Mayor and Public Safety Director Robert B. Giangeruso, who fully supported the accreditation process, is also very pleased with the outcome.

“The accreditation process is designed to measure the professionalism of our police department and recognizes our commitment to providing our residents and businesses with the highest level of public safety,” Giangeruso said.

The Lyndhurst PD earned its first full accreditation in 2013 and was recognized for re-accreditation in 2016. This current re-accreditation lasts through the next three years, and is based on the work of the department from 2017, 2018 and 2019, Auteri said.

“Mayor Giangeruso and the Board of Commissioners will formally recognize the department’s re-accreditation at a future commissioners’ meeting,” Auteri said. It is not immediately clear when that could be — and will be determined by how long the COVID-19 crisis lasts.

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Kevin A. Canessa Jr. is the editor of and broadcaster at The Observer, a place where he has served on and off since 2006. He is responsible for the editorial content of the newspaper and website, the production of the e-Newspaper, writing several stories per week (including the weekly editorial), conducting live broadcasts on Facebook Live, including a weekly recap of the news — and much more behind the scenes. Between 2006 and 2008, he introduced the newspaper to its first-ever blog — which included podcasts, audio and video. Originally from Jersey City, Kevin lived in Kearny until 2004, lived in Port St. Lucie. Florida, for four years until February 2016 and in March of that year, he moved back to West Hudson to return to The Observer full time. Click Here to send Kevin an email.