Accreditation
In its efforts to maintain the highest standards of professionalism, the Willingboro Police Department has sought and successfully achieved accreditation and re-accreditation a total of three times. In order to maintain our accreditation, the department voluntarily submits to a team of leaders in the law enforcement community, which is selected by the New Jersey Association of Chiefs of Police, conducting a thorough on-site assessment of the police department to ensure it is continuing to maintain the high standards set by the NJSACOP Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission. The Willingboro Police Department has never failed an on-site assessment and has continuously maintained accreditation since applying to the program.
2019 presentation of the NJSACOP re-accreditation plaque.
Left-Right: Lt. Donofrio, Harry Delgado (NJSACOP Accreditation Program Director), Director Lomon, Lt. Welch
The below caption was taken from the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police.
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Accreditation is a progressive and time-proven method of assisting law enforcement agencies to calculate and improve their overall performance. The foundation of Accreditation lies in the adoption of standards containing a clear statement of professional objectives. Participating agencies conduct a thorough self-analysis to determine how existing operations can be adapted to meet these standards and objectives. When the procedures are in place, a team of trained, independent assessors verifies that the applicable standards have been successfully implemented.
Accredited status represents a significant professional achievement. Accreditation acknowledges the implementation of policies and procedures that are conceptually sound and operationally effective.
The New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police has pursued the concept and development of a voluntary statewide law enforcement accreditation program for New Jersey which has resulted in the formation of the NJSACOP Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission, consisting of commissioners with the overall responsibility of adoption of program standards, as well as review of all assessment reports and approval of all recommendations for the granting of accredited status of applicant agencies.
The attitudes, training and actions of personnel of New Jersey's law enforcement agencies best reflect compliance with the standards contained in this program. Policy and procedure based on Accreditation will not insure mistake-free policing or a crime-free environment for citizens. Nor will it ensure an absence of litigation against law enforcement agencies and executives. However, comprehensive and effective leadership through professionally based policy development is directly influenced by a law enforcement program that is thorough, complete, and obtainable, and based on standards that reflect professional best practices.