SEQUIM—The Sequim Police Department has earned accreditation from the Washington Association of Sheriffs & Police Chiefs (WASPC), making it one of 63 State accredited police departments out of more than 300 law enforcement agencies in Washington State.
The purpose of law enforcement agency accreditation is to professionalize the law enforcement industry by providing a review process for agencies to be certified as operating under industry best practices and standards. The Sequim Police Department has been in the accreditation process since moving into the new Police Station in 2015. The Department was not eligible for accreditation previously, because the Police Station facility could not meet the requirements.
“This is an amazing accomplishment for our department,” said Sequim Police Chief Bill Dickinson. “The Department staff has worked tirelessly to fulfill the documentation requirements for the assessment process. I am extremely proud that we have achieved this distinction for the citizens of Sequim.”
The accreditation process includes a self-assessment phase where staff assesses their own abilities, and gathers documentation to prove, that they meet the 132 WASPC standards in 18 different areas including: Goals and Objectives, Codes of Conduct, Prisoner Security, Internal Affairs, and Records Management.
Self-assessment is followed by an on-site assessment and evaluation conducted by an on-site assessment team, comprised of volunteer assessors from law enforcement agencies across Washington State, charged to confirm the agency’s ability to meet the WASPC standards.
This phase is then reviewed for recommendation to the WASPC Executive Board, which issues the final decision.
Police Chief Bill Dickinson, Deputy Police Chief Sheri Crain, and Sergeants Darrell Nelson, Mike Hill, and Sean Madison accepted the accreditation plaque on November 16, 2016 on behalf of the City at the WASPC Semi-Annual Training Conference held in Lake Chelan.
For more information, visit the WASPC website at http://www.waspc.org/accreditation or contact the Sequim Police Department at (360) 683-7227.