Accreditation

The East Lampeter Police Department started its on-site assessment by assessors of the Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission (PLEAC) in July of 2004. The unanimous recommendation of certified assessors was approved by PLEAC, and on December 11, 2004 accreditation status was granted to the East Lampeter Township Police at the PA Chiefs of Police Conference annual conference in Harrisburg, PA.

The accreditation concept and practice is not new. For many years, hospitals, universities and other professional fields have undergone accreditation to prove compliance with a set of professional standards. The concept of accreditation is a progressive and time-proven way of helping organizations evaluate and improve their overall performance.

Accreditation requires the agency to meet 132 proven standards that address four areas which are Organization and Management Roles, Law Enforcement Functions, Staff Support Responsibilities and PA Legal Mandates.  It is an ongoing process whereby the agency is required to establish policy and procedures against established criteria and have compliance with that criteria verified by three independent assessors during a mock and on site assessment.   The assessors review training, services, equipment, policies and participate in “ride-alongs” to verify compliance with the acceptable best practices as set forth by PLEAC.  Accreditation affects every component of the agency and assures the community is receiving professional police services.

The PLEAC recognition is a coveted award that symbolizes professionalism, excellence and competence in the law enforcement profession. The East Lampeter Township community can take pride in their department knowing it represents the very best in PA law enforcement.

PLEAC was established in July 2001 and the East Lampeter Township Police Department became the first accredited agency in Lancaster County and the18th PLEAC accredited agency out of over 1200 police departments in Pennsylvania.   Less than 10% of police departments in PA are accredited and we are one of only eight (8) in Lancaster County.  In 2022, the East Lampeter Township Police Department was awarded "Premier" status by PLEAC for having been re-accredited five (5) times without provisions or extensions, a status shared with two (2) Lancaster County agencies.

Some benefits of accreditation for our agency:

  • Established 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 innovation activities by all agency personnel.
  • Develops improved methods for providing services to the community.
  • Encourages problem-solving activities within the agency.