The Charlottesville Police Department has been successfully reaccredited.
Every four years, the department undergoes an inspection by the Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission, or VLEPSC, a process by which “Virginia agencies can be systematically measured, evaluated, and updated,” according to the state agency’s website.
“It’s the accrediting body that sets specific standards for law enforcement organizations. It sets the minimum standards and all the policies that an organization has to have,” Charlottesville Police Chief Michael Kochis told The Daily Progress back in August. “It’s basically oversight at the state level for organizations.”
Kochis happens to sit on the executive board of the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police, one of three bodies that make up the standards commission. He and his counterparts on the board are tasked with establishing the commission’s professional standards and administering its accreditation process.
"Several certified VLEPSC assessors inspected the day-to-day operations of each division," according to a city statement announcing the reaccreditation, "ensuring that the department remains in compliance with the 192 required VLEPSC accreditation standards."
For instance, assessors might review how a department handles internal affairs investigations.
“Our policy says any complaint that comes in, we have to investigate it and this is how we have to do it,” Kochis said in August. “So when an assessor comes in, they look at internal affairs investigations and make sure we take all our complaints. If the policy says you have to investigate each complaint by doing A, B, C and D, and we have to show that we’ve done A, B, C and D.”Accreditation is a voluntary exercise that does not result in penalties or impact a law enforcement organization’s funding. But many departments seek out and take pride in accreditation anyway.“It basically sets standards for the organization,” said Kochis. “You do it to hold yourself accountable.”
Accreditation serves as an "oath of trust between the police department and the Charlottesville community," the city said.
”I am incredibly proud of our staff who work tirelessly each and every day to ensure we uphold the highest of standards; our community should expect nothing less," Kochis said in a statement after securing reaccreditation.
Charlottesville’s closest neighboring community has had to tolerate something less: Earlier this year, the Albemarle County Police Department announced it would be delaying its reaccreditation inspection until next July.
On June 6, Albemarle Police Chief Sean Reeves sent an email to staff explaining the decision. In the email, obtained by The Daily Progress via public records request, Reeves wrote that the decision was made in consultation with the standards commission and after mock inspections.
“The past four years of our current accreditation term have brought significant challenges, including the pandemic, leadership transitions, an internal change in accreditation management, and updates to our policies and procedures,” Reeves wrote.
He pointed to several reasons for the decision to delay, including “an internal change in accreditation management.”
He also provided a list of three matters he wants resolved before a future inspection.
“We are currently addressing three critical areas: the revision of our policy manual, the update of our K-9 policy, and enhancements to our Evidence Unit practices,” he wrote.
By allowing his department additional time, Reeves said, the police department will be able to meet and exceed accreditation standards.“I want to be clear: this is not about placing blame or making excuses. It is about taking ownership of our current situation and setting a course for improvement,” Reeves wrote. “This is an opportunity for us to demonstrate our resilience and our unwavering dedication to professional growth.”He also emphasized that the choice was made “after careful consideration” and in consultation with the standards commission, department leadership and “those closest to the work.”“This decision was not made lightly, but it is one that I believe is in the best interest of our department and the community we serve,” Reeves wrote.The lack of accreditation has no impact on the department’s operations, according to Albemarle police spokeswoman Logan Bogert.“While being in self-assessment does mean that ACPD is not currently VLEPSC accredited, it does not impact day-to-day operations, funding, or ACPD’s ability to provide police services to the community,” Bogert told The Daily Progress via email.
Source: www.dailyprogress.com