The Woodland Park Police Department was scheduled for an on-site assessment on Monday, March 15 as part of its re-certification for accreditation by verifying that it meets recognized professional best practices.

Administered by the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, the accreditation program requires agencies to comply with best practice standards in five basic areas: the administrative function, the personnel function, the operations function, the investigative function, and the arrestee/detainee function.

“Verification by the team that the Woodland Park 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,” Chief Uzzalino said. 

Agency employees and the public were invited to offer comments by calling 973-345-8115 on March 15. Comments were to be taken by the assessment team and could be emailed to Acting Chief John Uzzalino (juzzalino@wpnj.us). Telephone comments were limited to five minutes and had to address the agency’s ability to comply with the NJSACOP standards.

Written comments about the Department’s ability to comply with the standards for accreditation could be sent by email to Harry J. Delgado, Ed.S Accreditation Program Director, hdelgado@njsacop.org, or writen to the New Jersey State Association of Chief’s of Police, Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission at 751 Route 73 North, Suite 12, Marlton, NJ 08053.

The WPPD must comply with the standards 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 Uzzalino noted.