Agency Accreditation

On May 11 2016, the Smithfield Police Department was presented the Certification of Accreditation for their commitment to law enforcement excellence as evidenced by their successful completion of the certification process for the Virginia Law Enforcement Accreditation Program.

 

 

All accreditation programs are designed to measure and confirm compliance of the participating agency with the professional standards in whatever discipline or profession they are involved.  It is one of the only means by which citizens and government leaders can be assured that an agency is maintaining the high performance marks to which the community has a right.

The Smithfield Police Department has demonstrated their commitment to professionalism and their willingness to be measured by and compared to the best in the profession.

Virginia’s program was started in the early 1990's, with the creation of a twelve member Commission of representatives from the Virginia Sheriffs’ Association and the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police. The Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission (VLEPSC) provides law enforcement agencies in the Commonwealth with an avenue for demonstrating that they meet nearly 200 accepted standards for efficient and effective agency operation. The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) administers the program for VLEPSC.

To obtain accreditation, a law enforcement agency must meet all applicable program standards, maintain their accreditation files on an on-going basis and provide annual verifications of compliance as required by the Commission. On-site assessments by specially trained program assessors assure consistency and full compliance of all accredited agencies.

 

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On March 23, 2000, the Smithfield Police Department received accreditation through the Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission (VLEPSC) and became the smallest department in the state of Virginia to receive such status.

  

The Smithfield Police Department views this award of accreditation as the beginning of a process. Maintenance of the department's policies, as well as maintaining a high level of training, will be integral parts in remaining a professional organization. The achievement of accredited status is something of which the men and women of the Smithfield Police Department are proud of. More importantly, the community can have confidence that their law enforcement service has undergone a rigorous review and is required to stay in step with the accepted practices of a modern, professional police department.

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