The Lower Saucon Township Police Department is proud to announce that on Wednesday, April 2, 2014, Chief Guy L. Lesser, Sergeant Thomas Barndt, Detective Corporal Christopher Leidy, and Corporal Timothy Connell attended the Commission Meeting as part of the 10th Annual Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Accreditation Training Conference held in Harrisburg, PA. During the meeting the department was confirmed as an accredited agency and was presented with a plaque by William Kelly, Chairman of the Commission.

Detective Corporal Leidy, who was assigned the task of being the department's Accreditation Manager in 2009, and in addition to completing his normal duties and assignments, focused on completing the required tasks to reach the assessment stage of the accreditation process. A mock assessment was completed in October 2013, with final assessment occurring in late November.

With this award the Lower Saucon Township Police Department joined five other municipalities in Northampton County, and over ninety departments statewide, who have previously obtained accredited status. The status is valid for three years from the date of the assessment, at which time a re-assessment is conducted.

About Accreditation

Accreditation is a progressive and time-proven way of helping institutions evaluate and improve their overall performance. The cornerstone of this strategy lies in the promulgation of standards containing a clear statement of professional objectives. Participating administrators then conduct a thorough analysis to determine how existing operations can be adapted to meet these objectives. When the procedures are in place, a team of independent professionals is assigned to verify that all applicable standards have been successfully implemented. The process culminates with a decision by an authoritative body that the institution is worthy of accreditation.

The Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Accreditation Program was designed and developed by professional law enforcement executives to provide a reasonable and cost effective plan for the professionalization of law enforcement agencies within the Commonwealth. The underlying philosophy of the program is to have a user-friendly undertaking for the departments that will result in a "success" oriented outcome.

There are numerous benefits to achieving an accredited status:

•          Establishes a credible framework for evaluating agency practices and procedures

•          Reduces agency risk and exposure to lawsuits

•          Decreases some liability insurance expenditures

•          Improves law enforcement – 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

•          Provides reliable methods to improve essential management procedures

•          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

•          Encourages problem-solving activities within the agency

Please visit www.pachiefs.org/accreditation.com for more information.