Accreditation Assessment Team Will Visit Nutley Police Department

NUTLEY, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of the Nutley Police Department. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site.

On Monday, June 7, a team of assessors from the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police (NJSACOP) will examine all aspects of the Nutley Police Department’s policies and procedures, management, operations and support services, Chief Thomas Strumolo recently announced.

“Verification by the team that the Nutley Police Department meets the commission’s 'best practice' standards is part of a voluntary process to achieve accreditation, a highly prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence,” Strumolo said.

As part of this final on-site assessment, employees and members of the general public are invited to provide comments to the assessment team. They can do so by telephone or email. The public may call (609) 929-1386 on Monday, June 7 between the hours of 10 and 11 a.m. Email comments can be sent to kwatson@nutleypd.com.

Phone comments are limited to five minutes and must address the agency’s ability to comply with the NJSACOP standards. Contact Lt. Kenneth Watson at (973) 284-4940 for more information.

Anyone wishing to offer written comments about the Nutley Police Department’s ability to comply with the standards for accreditation is requested to e-mail the accreditation program director at hdelgado@njsacop.org, or write the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission at 751 Route 73 North, Suite 12, Marlton, NJ, 08053.

The Nutley Police Department must comply with NJSACOP LEAP 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,” Chief Strumolo said.

The accreditation program director for the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police is Harry Delgado.

"The assessment team is composed of law enforcement practitioners from similar New Jersey law enforcement agencies," Delgado stated. "The assessors will review written materials, interview agency members, and inspect 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 to the full commission, which will then decide if the agency is to be granted 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.

The New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police through its New Jersey Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission is the legitimate authority and accreditation agency in the state of New Jersey. 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, Suite 12, Marlton, NJ, 08053 or email hdelgado@njsacop.org.

Don’t forget to visit the Patch Belleville-Nutley Facebook page. Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Sign up for Patch email newsletters.