Amid Protests, Warminster Police Seeking Accreditation

WARMINSTER, PA — Amid police-violence protests that have spread to all 50 states and around the world, police in Warminster are looking to renew an accreditation that addresses, among other things, discrimination and bias.

The Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association has been offering accreditation since 2001. It is intended to improve the performance of police departments by setting clear standards and objectives.

Currently, Warminster Township Police are undergoing their fifth re-accreditation by the association. Warminster is one of just 120 departments in Pennsylvania that currently are accredited.

"With our mission, vision and values stated, we look to eradicate any bias that may occur and assure transparency, so our community can be comforted with the authority they entrust us with," said Warminster Police Chief Jim Donnelly in a news release.

Earning the accreditation requires departments to develop policies to educate officers on avoiding discrimination and bias.

In addition to announcing they are seeking the re-accreditation, Warminster Police released the department's bias-based policing and internal affairs policies for the public to view. Donnelly said those policies were shared after a community member requested them.

Warminster, like many surrounding communities, has been the site of peaceful protests in the wake of the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Floyd's death in police custody touched off protests against police violence toward racial minorities.

A Houston native, Floyd was buried there on Tuesday.

On Monday, Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer who kneeled on Floyd's neck for nearly nine minutes, made his first court appearance. He is charged with second-degree murder, third-degree manslaughter and third-degree murder.

The other three former officers involved in the arrest — Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao — also face charges and are being held on $750,000 bail.

An early protest planned in Warminster was called off after the organizer met with Donnelly.

"We are glad we can peacefully sit down and discuss the outrageous and unlawful events in order to better work together to promote racial equality," Warminster Police said in a post at the time.