Sequim Police Department earns renewed accreditation
Published 1:30 am Wednesday, July 1, 2020
The Sequim Police Department recently earned accreditation from the Washington Association of Sheriffs & Police Chiefs (WASPC), making it one of about 60 accredited police departments out of more than 300 law enforcement agencies in Washington state.
The purpose of the accreditation, law enforcement officials said, is to professionalize the law enforcement industry by providing a review process to certify that agencies are operating under the best industry practices and standards.
The Sequim Police Department was first accredited in 2016 after moving into their new facility at the Sequim Civic Center.
Agencies can be re-accredited every four years and is often a more difficult accomplishment, department officials said in a press release last week.
The accreditation reflects “an adherence and performance to high standards every day, with all work processes and performance over all four years,” they said.
“Our department continues to grow professionally, to do our jobs at a consistently high level,” Sequim Police Chief Sheri Crain said.
“Accreditation requires rigorous documentation requirements for the assessment process. Staff Sergeant Sean Madison led that effort as our Accreditation Manager and deserves accolades for his efforts the last four years.”
Standards that are audited include: goals and objectives; role and authority; use of force; management, staffing, organization and utilization of personnel; records management; information technology; unusual occurrences; health and safety; fiscal management; recruitment and selection; training; performance evaluation; code of conduct; internal affairs; patrol function; investigative function; evidence and property control function, and prisoner security.
The benefits of WASPC accreditation, Sequim Police representatives say, include: increased public confidence in the agency; broadened perspectives; assurance that recruitment, selection, and promotion processes are fair and equitable; improvement of agency morale and pride; and state and local recognition of professional competence.
For more about the accreditation program, visit www.waspc.org/accreditation.
For more information about the Sequim Police Department, call 360-683-7227 or see www.sequimwa.gov.
