The Plainfield Police Department has received accreditation from the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police.
According to city officials, in July, the Plainfield Police Department passed an on-site assessment conducted by two examiners from the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police (NJSACOP).
Officials say the examiners checked all aspects of the Plainfield Police Department’s policies, procedures, management and operations. The success of the on-site assessment was achieved through the continued efforts by all of the department’s personnel in embracing the concept of utilizing best practices in delivering the best possible service to the residents of the City of Plainfield.
Officials say on Wednesday, October 17, the NJ State Chiefs of Police unanimously voted in favor of granting the Plainfield Police Department accreditation status. Police Director Carl Riley attended the final hearing, Accreditation Manager Lieutenant William Tyler, Assistant Accreditation Manager Sergeant Wayne Slaughter and Captains Brian Newman, Kevin O’Brien and Wayne Williams city officials said.
The accreditation process is designed to increase citizen and employee confidence in the agency by establishing objectives, goals, policies, and practices. These standards are continually reviewed to ensure that the department maintains the best practices that adhere to the current law.
Officials say some of the many benefits accreditation offers outside of ensuring the highest level of service are:
-The City will receive insurance premium discounts resulting in reduced costs
-Greater efficiency in meeting the needs of service to the community
-Greater accountability through standard policies and written directives that clearly define
lines of authority, decision making and resource allocation
-Stronger defense against lawsuits and citizen complaints. Frivolous legal actions against
the police are shown to decrease with Accreditation
Officials say to maintain Accreditation under the NJSACOP Program, the department must be reviewed every three years for re-accreditation. This includes a full on-site assessment to ensure the agency is adhering to the required standards.
Achieving Accreditation demonstrates that the Plainfield Police Department is committed to providing a high level of professionalism and quality service to the community it serves. It is a prestigious honor and a significant achievement to be an Accredited Agency.
The Plainfield Police Department is proud to join the ranks of accredited law enforcement agencies in the state of New Jersey.
Mayor Adrian O. Mapp said “Our Police Department has worked hard under the leadership of Director Carl Riley over the past few years to not only drive crime down in our City but to provide the highest level of service to our residents.
It is very gratifying to see their hard work acknowledged by the State and to know that our force is among the elite in New Jersey. Relationships between law enforcement and our residents have never been stronger and this accreditation only reinforces what we knew to be true all along; that Plainfield has some of the best Police Officers not only in this State but in the United States of America.”