Pennsylvania law enforcement accreditation program

The Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association introduced the Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Accreditation Program to the Commonwealth in July 2001. 

Accreditation is a progressive and time-proven way of helping institutions evaluate and improve their overall performance. There is a collection of approximately 139 standards containing a clear statement of professional objectives. Participating departments then conduct a thorough analysis to determine how existing operations and associated procedures can be adapted to meet these objectives. When the procedures are in place, a team of independent law enforcement professionals are assigned to verify that all applicable standards have been successfully implemented. The process culminates with a decision by the Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission that the institution is worthy of accreditation for a three-year period with annual reports required.

1. Application - Notify the accreditation staff at the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association of the agency’s  desire to enroll in the Law Enforcement Accreditation Program
2. Self-Assessment - Comparison of how the agency’s current policies comply with the Law Enforcement Accreditation Program standards
3. Formal Assessment - Trained assessors will perform an on-site review of the agency to determine compliance with the Law Enforcement Accreditation Program standards

The Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Accreditation Program is affordable, specific to law enforcement within Pennsylvania and sets the foundation for institutions to improve overall performance.

Once your agency has become successfully accredited through the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association, share this exciting news with your community members and stakeholders. Let them know that your agency is proud to have attained this distinguished status!