Brick Police Undergoing Accreditation Renewal Assessment

The Brick Township police department is undergoing an assessment of its operations as it seeks renewal of its accreditation, Police Chief Nils R. Bergquist announced.

The department, which first received accreditation from the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police in 2013, is in the final stages of assessment for the renewal, and will undergo an on-site assessment, he said.

Assessors will arrive Sunday, Oct. 4, Bergquist said, “to examine all aspects of the Brick Township Police Department’s management, operations, and support services.”

“Verification by the team that the Brick Township Police Department meets the commission’s ‘best practice’ standards is part of a voluntary process to achieve and maintain accreditation, a highly prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence,” he said.

As part of the final on-site assessment, employees and members of the public are invited to provide comments to the assessment team. They may do so by phone or by email.

The public can call 732-262-1107 on Monday, Oct. 5, between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Telephone comments are limited to 5 minutes and must address the agency’s ability to comply with NJSACOP standards. The standards are available for inspection at the township police department, in the municipal building on Chambersbridge Road. Contact Lt. Vincent Pacitti at 732-262-1154.

Anyone wishing to offer written comments about the department’s ability to comply with the standards for accreditation is asked to email Harry J. Delgado, Ed. S., accreditation program manager, at hdelgado@njsacop.org or
write to NJ State Association of Chiefs of Police Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission at 751 Route 73 North, Suite 12, Marlton, NJ 08053.

The Brick Township Police Department must demonstrate that it complies with 100 standards to maintain its accredited status. The department was first accredited on Feb. 14, 2013.

“The process insures that best practices are employed across all dimensions of police work,” Bergquist said. “Accreditation results in not only greater accountability within the agency but also greater accountability to the people it serves.

“Accreditation is not just a certificate to hang on a wall,” he said. ”It is an ongoing process that ensures that the department employs best practices in all aspects of policing. That process, over the past three years, has provided a roadmap to more effective and efficient operations throughout the department. It has resulted in greater accountability and confidence from the people in the community we serve.”

“The assessment team is composed of law enforcement practitioners from similar New Jersey law enforcement agencies,” Delgaod said. “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 then will decide if the agency is to be granted accredited status.”

Accreditation is valid for a three-year period during wich the agency must submit annual reports attesting to its continued compliance.