City of Peekskill Police Department Recognized by New York State

Peekskill, N.Y. (October 7, 2019) – The City of Peekskill Police Department is pleased to announce it has been awarded re-accreditation by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services’ Law Enforcement Accreditation Program. This recognition confirms that the Department continues to demonstrate a high level of excellence and professionalism in the field of law enforcement by meeting the standards established by the New York State Law Enforcement Agency Accreditation Council.

New York State’s Division of Criminal Justice Services’ Accreditation Program is a progressive and contemporary way of helping police agencies evaluate and improve their overall performance. It provides formal recognition that an organization meets or exceeds general expectations of quality in the field.

The City of Peekskill Police Department first obtained accreditation in 2009 and recently went through a comprehensive review of operations to obtain another five-year renewal.

“Everyone in the Department worked extremely hard to earn this distinction,” said Peekskill Police Chief Don Halmy. “This is an honor that the majority of New York State police agencies have not yet earned – and one that required a lot of hard work and commitment from everyone involved.”

The Accreditation Program aims to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of law enforcement agencies utilizing existing personnel, equipment and facilities. The program strives to ensure the appropriate training of law enforcement personnel while promoting public confidence in law enforcement agencies and increased interagency cooperation.

"Congratulations to the men and women of the City of Peekskill Police Department on this commendable achievement," said Mayor Andre Rainey. “Being a police officer is one of the most difficult jobs to undertake. This designation reaffirms that the Department is effectively managed and provides the highest quality of police service to the people of our city.”

The Accreditation Program was developed to further enhance the capabilities of an agency, and is divided into three categories. Standards in the Administrative section have provisions for such topics as agency organization, fiscal management, personnel practices, and records management. Training standards encompass basic and in-service instruction, as well as training for supervisors and specialized or technical assignments. Operations standards deal with such critical and litigious topics as high-speed pursuits, roadblocks, patrol, and unusual occurrences.

The re-accreditation follows BackgroundChecks.org’s recent release of its 2019 Safest Cities in New York report analyzing over 2,900 cities across the United States. The report found that, within New York State, the City of Peekskill ranked number 21. An impressive 61 cities in New York scored a .3 or higher on the Safety Index, indicating a very high level of safety. The City of Peekskill scored a .66 on the Safety Index.

The City of Peekskill is located at 840 Main Street in Peekskill, N.Y., and can be reached at 914-737-3400 or by visiting www.cityofpeekskill.com.

About the City of Peekskill

The City of Peekskill is a thriving, historic community located on the banks of the Hudson River. Just under one hour north of New York City, Peekskill is culturally and economically vibrant with abundant natural resources due to its location on the river and at the gateway to the Hudson Highlands. The City’s pedestrian-friendly downtown is buzzing with an array of dining and entertainment establishments. Offering artist lofts, studios, galleries and museums, Peekskill is home to a growing arts community and has no shortage of arts activities. The waterfront, with over three miles of continuous parkland, is a regional destination with a variety of active and passive recreation, as well as breathtaking views of the Hudson River. For more information, visit www.cityofpeekskill.com.