Public Comment Welcome as Ocean City Police Seek Re-Accreditation

Ocean City, NJ -- A team of assessors from the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police (NJSACOP) will examine all aspects of the Ocean City Police Department's policies and procedures, management, operations and support services as part of the department’s application for re-accreditation, Ocean City Police Chief Chad Callahan said Monday morning.

The team will arrive on Sunday, May 1. The police department first achieved prized accreditation in 2006. Accreditation is valid for a three-year period during which time the agency must submit annual reports attesting to their continued compliance with those standards under which it was initially accredited.

The Ocean City Police Department must comply with 105 standards in order to achieve accredited status.

"Accreditation is not only a time-proven method of assisting our agency in improving overall performance, but it enhances our accountability to our residents and visitors alike, and reduces our risk and liability through comprehensive policy development that are conceptually sound and operationally effective," Callahan said.

As part of this final on-site assessment, employees and members of the general public are invited to provide comments to the assessment team.

They may do so by calling 609-525-9147 between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Monday, May 2. Comments can also be emailed to ccallahan@ocnj.us.

Telephone comments are limited to 5 minutes and must address the agency's ability to comply with the NJSACOP standards, a copy of which is available for inspection at the Ocean City Police Department, 835 Central Avenue, Ocean City, New Jersey. Interested parties should contact Callahan at 609-525-9100.

The Accreditation Program Manager for the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police is Mr. Harry J. Delgado, Ed. S.

Anyone wishing to offer written comments about the Ocean City Police Department's ability to comply with the standards for accreditation is requested to email the Accreditation Program manager at hdelgado@njsacop.org or write the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission, at 751 Route 73 North, Suite 12, Marlton, NJ 08053.

The New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police through its New Jersey Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission is the legitimate authority and accreditation agency in the State of New Jersey.