Sheriff’s Office Seeks State Accreditation

CREST HAVEN — Sheriff Gary Schaffer announced Thursday, Feb. 12 that the Cape May County Sheriff’s Office has applied to be become an accredited agency through the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police Law Enforcement Accreditation Program.
According to a release, this accreditation program, specifically designed for law enforcement agencies, is a progressive and time-proven way to calculate and improve overall performances.
Accreditation represents a significant professional achievement and acknowledges the implementation of policies and procedures that are conceptually sound and operationally effective.
“The benefits of accreditation are many. The community benefits through the agency’s efficient and increased ability to deliver law enforcement services. Accreditation creates a forum in which law enforcement and citizens work together to control and prevent crime. Accreditation streamlines operations, providing more consistency and more effective deployment of agency manpower,” according to Schaffer.
The Police Chief Association has developed this law enforcement accreditation program modeled after the national CALEA program. There are 112 standards that the Sheriff’s Office must meet. The accreditation process entails eight phases: Application, Self-Assessment, Policy Development, Mock Assessment, Commission On-Site Assessment, Public Hearing, Commission Review, Awards Ceremony, as well as re-accreditation.
Standards address life, health and safety issues, legal and other critical requirements and conditions that reduce major risks and high liability exposures.
According to Schaffer, funding to pay for the accreditation was obtained through a grant from the New Jersey Sheriff’s Association. The goal is to have every Sheriff’s Office in the State fully accredited.
“I look forward to this process that includes self-evaluation. The process usually takes 12- 14 months from start to finish. This accreditation is a coveted award that symbolizes professionalism, excellence and competence. Employees will take pride in their agency, knowing that it represents the very best in law enforcement,” Schaffer said.
According to the Police Chief Association Web site, 128 law enforcement agencies throughout the state are accredited or pursuing accreditation.
In this county, the Cape May, Middle Township, Ocean City and Stone Harbor police departments have already received state accreditation and the Lower Township, Wildwood Crest and North Wildwood police departments are pursuing accreditation along with the Sheriff’s Office.