Police Department Preparing For Reaccreditation Inspection

The Newtown Police Department is scheduled for a reaccreditation inspection Tuesday, June 24, when a team of inspectors will review department files to check that the organization complies with the professional standards required for state-sanctioned reaccreditation.

In 2005, the department first received a three-year accreditation, recognizing professionalism in policing. It is now seeking reaccreditation.

The inspection and accreditation of local police departments in the state is administered by the Police Officer Standards and Training Council (POSTC), which is a state agency.

As part of the state review of whether the town police department meets current standards, POSTC is seeking comments from the public.

Public comments may be mailed to Harold T. LeMay, POSTC Accreditation Division, 285 Preston Avenue, Meriden CT 06450, or by telephone at 203-238-6026, or by fax at 203-238-6643 or by e-mail to Accreditation.Compliance@po.state.ct.us. Enter the name “Newtown Police Department” in the subject line of the e-mail.

A copy of the accreditation standards is available at the Newtown Police Department, 3 Main Street, from Lieutenant James M. Mooney; telephone 270-4245. The police department is required to have a list of the accreditation standards available for the public to review, but is not required to provide copies of the published standards.

Public comments must relate to the police department’s ability to meet the standards for accreditation. All comments will be reviewed and added to the police department’s accreditation record. Copies will also be provided to the police department.

Public comments regarding the police department are welcome at all times by POSTC, either by e-mail or by US mail.

POSTC reviews a police department’s ability to meet and maintain compliance with the standards for accreditation. Complaints regarding agency personnel, police actions, and police decisions that may be related to accreditation standards are important to POSTC, but should be made to the appropriate town department or official for investigation and resolution.

In January 2005, the police department first received a Tier 1, or basic, accreditation. The department had worked toward that goal for several years. That certification concerns police standards pertaining to liability and risk. There are three successively complex tiers of accreditation.

An accreditation certification lasts for three years, after which recertification is necessary to maintain the status.

Accreditation is a voluntary process through which municipal law enforcement agencies seek to demonstrate a commitment to excellence, according to POSTC.