Accreditation Awarded To New Hope Borough Police Department

NEW HOPE BOROUGH, Pa. — The New Hope Borough Police Department has been awarded
accreditation by the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association, making it one of only 20 borough departments in Pennsylvania to earn the recognition.

At borough council’s meeting this week, Jim Adams, the accreditation program coordinator for the statewide association, officially presented New Hope Borough Police Chief Michael Cummings and Mayor Larry Keller with a framed accreditation certificate. Joining them in accepting the certificate were accreditation manager Corporal Candace Trembley and Officer Kenneth Kozuhowski.

Out of 950 boroughs in Pennsylvania, just 20 have accredited police departments, according to Adams. Pennsylvania also boasts about 1150 municipal police departments. Out of that number, only 142 are accredited.

“That means you are in the top 13 percent of police departments in Pennsylvania, right in there with the Pennsylvania State Police, the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office criminal investigation division and the Philadelphia Police Department,” said Adams. “You rank right up
there with the best of the best in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It’s quite an accomplishment.”

Chief Cummings expressed his appreciation to the borough council, the mayor and the department for the support through the accreditation process.

“This is something I’ve wanted to do for a while. I think it makes us better,” he said.

He personally thanked Corporal Candace Trembley for leading the accreditation process for the department. “She did the bulk of the work. She was my right hand person to make this happen.

“Everyone jumped on board with this. There was nobody who was against it,” said the chief. “It was a wonderful experience.”

He also thanked the public works department for making changes to the physical plant, including changing its holding area, changing doors and installing cameras.

Accreditation is a long and involved process, which begins with a self-evaluation. During the self-evaluation, the department reviews 125 different standards (best practices) in policies and procedures to make sure all of its officers and the agency is in compliance. That takes about 12
months to complete.

A team of assessors then visits the department to review the department’s policy manual and to determine whether all the officers and the agency are complying with the standards. That also includes a sit down closed door conversation with the chief of police and his command staff.

“It’s not just a sticker program,” said Adams. “Every year a very detailed annual report has to be submitted. They have to attest that they continue to comply with all standards.”

So what’s the value in being an accredited department?

“A few years ago a couple of our state representatives came up with the 8 Can’t Wait initiatives that all Pennsylvania police departments should immediately adopt as far as best practices,” said Adams. “They had a little egg on their face because all the accredited agencies already had those 8 Can’t Wait initiatives in their policy, not just recently but for many years. We were already doing what they came up with.”

Accreditation, he said, puts police departments ahead of the game. “It also shows that your police chief truly understands risk management,” he added.

“Studies show that when accredited agencies of similar size are compared to non-accredited agencies the number of civil suits filed dramatically drop. And when there is a civil suit the payouts are much less,” said Adams. “Why is that? Because they are already complying with best
practices and policies.”

In addition, accreditation improves law enforcement and community relations; increases employee input, interaction and confidence in the agency; enlarges the outlook and viewpoints of managers, officers and employees; identifies and highlights the capabilities and competence of
the agency; furnishes a solid foundation for the agency to build upon for further progress; and provides reliable methods to improve essential management procedures.

It also extends agency accountability to the public and elected officials; enhances planning and innovative activities by all agency personnel; develops improved methods for providing services to the community; and encourages problem-solving activities within the agency.