Police Prep for Next Step in Search for Excellence

The Cranford Police Department will see how it stacks up against 112 "best practice" standards developed for law enforcement organizations throughout the state during a reaccreditation evaluation in November.

"As a citizen you should want to live in a place with a police department that has been scrutinized," said Cranford's Chief of Police Eric Mason. "It's an opportunity to have someone come in over our shoulders and critique our work and point us in the right direction."

Headed by the New Jersey State Assocation of Chiefs of Police, the overall purpose of the accreditation program was designed to improve law enforcement services by providing standards created by law enforcement practitioners. While voluntary, the accreditation process helps agencies improve their services, promotes their achievements, mandates officer safety training, and helps curb liability costs.

“It’s a feather in the cap of the people who work here more than anything," said Mason. "It's all about how our officers are performing and they're proud of the results."

Initially accredited in December 2006, this marks the Cranford Police Department's first application for reaccreditation. Officers have been working to meet reaccreditation standards since January of 2007.

"Accreditation is an ongoing process," said Mason. "It's a continuous process because things change, it’s impossible to go back and make three years of changes all at once."

To prepare, officers must reevaluate their agency’s programs, activities and operations to meet accreditation standards. Cranford has focused on areas such as responsibilities and relationships with other agencies; organization, management and administration; personnel administration; auxiliary and technical support and law enforcement operation and support, said Mason.

The department underwent a mock assessment in July, during which time several members of the NJSACOP accreditation team addressed a number of required standards for review and comment. 

“The mock assessment went extremely well, and we received valuable, constructive comments,” said Mason.

As a final step in the renewal process, the Cranford Police Department will host two professional law enforcement assessors for a two-day long, on-site review beginning November 22. 

"They don’t just want us to have it in a book," said Mason. "They want to know what you’re doing, so they might want to see reports of pursuits, maybe even to hear a tape of a pursuit."

These assessors will visit the Cranford Police Department headquarters, interviewing personnel, reviewing policies, procedures, documentations and proofs of compliance. They will also attend ride-along tours with members of the department and will be available to the public for discussion via a telephone call-in session on November 23, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. by dialing (908) 276-8355.

"You kinda get a feel before they leave whether or not you passed," said Mason. "If you didn’t pass, they’re not looking you in the eye."

Pursuit of NJSACOP reaccreditation will promote the agency’s existing efforts in areas such as: long-range operational and strategic plans; expanded crime prevention and community involvement; maintaining feedback from the community, victims and employees; career development; training opportunities; and enhanced victim assistance efforts.

Another benefit of the reaccreditation process is that it addresses officer safety issues and mandates adequate training and equipment for officers in the Cranford Police Department.  It enables officers in the department to have confidence in the efficiency and effectiveness of the department’s operation.

Other potential benefits of NJSACOP reaccreditation include controlled liability insurance costs, administrative improvements, greater accountability from supervisors and increased governmental and community support.