A team of assessors from the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police (NJSACOP) will arrive on Sunday, March 8th, 2015, to examine all aspects of the Mansfield Township Police Department’s policies and procedures, management, operations, and support services.
The assessment team is tasked with verifying that the Mansfield Township Police Department meets the NJSACOP Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission’s ‘best practice’ standards as part of a voluntary process to maintain accredited status, a highly prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence. The Mansfield Township Police Department has been accredited since 2011 and must submit to periodic verification to maintain its accredited status.
If members of the public would like to provide comments to the assessment team, they may do so by telephone. The public may call 609-298-0408 on Monday, March 9th, 2015, between the hours of 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Email comments can be sent to mulhall@mansfieldpd.org.
Telephone comments are limited to 5 minutes and must address the agency’s ability to comply with the NJSACOP standards. A copy of the standards is available at the Mansfield Township Police Department, 190-A Atlantic Avenue, Columbus, NJ. Please contact Lieutenant Eric Campbell at 609-298-4411 for additional information.
Anyone wishing to submit written comments about the Mansfield Township Police Department’s ability to comply with the standards for accreditation may send them by email to Harry J Delgado, Ed.S., Accreditation Program Manager, hdelgado@njsacop.org, by phone 856-988-5880, or write to the New Jersey State Association of Chief’s of Police, Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission at 751 Route 73 North West, Suite 12, Marlton, N.J. 08053.
The police department has to comply with 100 standards in order to achieve accredited status. Accreditation results in greater accountability within the agency, reduced risk and liability exposure, stronger defense against civil lawsuits, increased community advocacy, and more confidence in the agency’s ability to operate efficiently and respond to community needs.
The Accreditation Program Manager for the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, Mr. Harry J Delgado, Ed.S, stated, “The assessment team is composed of law enforcement practitioners from similar New Jersey law enforcement agencies. 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 back to the full Commission, which will then decide if the agency is to be granted continued accredited status.”
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.
For more information regarding the Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission please write the Commission at New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission at 751 Route 73 North West, Suite 12, Marlton, N.J. 08053.