West Earl Receives Grant Funding for Police Accreditation
West Earl Receives Grant Funding for Police Accreditation
The West Earl Township Police Department has been awarded a total of $34,900.00 in grant funding to assist the department in completing the accreditation process through the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association’s Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission (PLEAC).
The grant award was announced by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) at their December 8th meeting. The grant funding is provided through the US. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs. The Department will use the funding to hire a consulting firm to assist the agency with developing a comprehensive policy manual and to assist the agency with attaining accredited status with the PA Chiefs of Police Association.
Police Accreditation embodies the precepts of community-oriented policing. It creates a forum in which the police and the citizens can work together to prevent and control challenges confronting law enforcement and provides a clear direction regarding community expectations. Some of the benefits of accreditation include:
• Establishes a credible framework for evaluating agency practices and procedures
• Reduces agency risk and exposure to lawsuits
• Improves law enforcement – community relations
• Increases employee input, interaction and confidence in the agency
• Identifies and highlights the capabilities and competence of the agency
• Furnishes a solid foundation for the agency to build upon for further progress
• 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
• Brings the departments policies and procedures up to date with best practices in law enforcement.
“We’re excited to have been awarded this grant, Accreditation enhances the professionalism of the agency while improving our methods and levels of service we provide to the communities of West Earl Township and Akron Borough” said Chief Eric S. Higgins
The police department expects the process to take 12-18 months.
