By DONALD WITTKOWSKI
The Sea Isle City Police Department is seeking to win accreditation again, a highly coveted recognition of professional excellence in the law enforcement community.
A team of assessors from the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police (NJSACOP) will be in Sea Isle on Monday, May 22, to examine all aspects of the police department’s policies and procedures, management, operations and support services.
The assessors will also be seeking feedback from the public about the police department.
“Verification by the team that the Sea Isle City Police Department meets the Commission’s ‘best practice’ standards is part of a voluntary process to achieve accreditation, a highly prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence,” Sea Isle Police Chief Anthony Garreffi said in a statement.
Police accreditation was originally granted to Sea Isle in 2014. Once they are accredited, police departments must submit annual reports over a three-year period confirming that they continue to comply with the NJSACOP standards.
“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,” Garreffi said.
The NJSACOP, through its New Jersey Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission, is the police accreditation agency in New Jersey.
Harry Delgado, accreditation program director for the NJSACOP, explained that the assessment team includes law enforcement officials from police departments that are similar to Sea Isle’s.
“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 accredited status,” Delgado said in a statement.
As part of the on-site assessment process on May 22, Sea Isle Police Department employees and members of the public are invited to provide comments to the assessment team by telephone or email. The public may call (609) 602-0331 on May 22 between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. Email comments may be sent to agarreffi@sicpd.us.
Phone comments are limited to 5 minutes and must address the agency’s ability to comply with the NJSACOP standards.
Anyone wishing to offer written comments about the Sea Isle Police Department’s ability to comply with the standards for accreditation is requested to email the Accreditation Program Director at hdelgado@njsacop.org or write the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission, at 751 Route 73 North, Suite 12 Marlton, N.J. 08053.
