The LEAS Team

David Bonacquisti is currently employed with the Warminster Township Police Department. He was hired in February 1997 as a Patrol Officer and promoted to the rank of Detective in August 2005. David has been the Evidence Custodian for the police department since August 2005. He is also the DNA Evidence Custodian for the Bode Laboratory submission by all police departments in Bucks County that submit to the Central Hub, which is the Warminster Township Police Department. He also speaks Spanish and has translated for police departments in both Bucks and Montgomery Counties. David has an Associate’s degree in Criminal Justice from Montgomery County Community College.

The Warminster Township Police Department became accredited through the Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission in 2008. In 2010, David became the Accreditation Manager. Since that time, the Warminster Township Police Department has been re-accredited four separate times. 

David is also a mock assessor and conducted several mock assessments during his tenure as the Accreditation Manager. 

Rhonda Diercks is currently employed as the Manager of Accreditation and Professional Standards with Carnegie Mellon University Police Department. In addition to managing the accreditation program, Rhonda is also responsible for Clery and Uniform Crime (UCR) Reporting. Rhonda’s agency has been accredited by the Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission  since 2007. Rhonda’s agency was the first university police department in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to be accredited.  

Rhonda is an assessor for the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association's Law Enforcement Accreditation Program. She earned her bachelors degree from Duquesne University and her PA Municipal Police Officers’ Education & Training Commission Act 120 from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Rhonda is also an instructor with the Pennsylvania Motorcycle Safety Program.

Joshua Kilgore is currently employed by the Northern Lancaster Co. Regional Police Department (NLCRPD) as a Patrol Operations Lieutenant. Josh began his law enforcement career in Bucks County, Pennsylvania in 1994 and was later employed by the Warwick Township Police Department (WTPD), Lancaster County in 1997. In 2011 the WTPD became one of three original charter members of the newly formed NLCRPD. Josh currently oversees training, scheduling, personnel, and has been the acting accreditation manager since 2019. Josh currently serves an active member and assessor with the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association through their Law Enforcement Accreditation Program, is an active member of both the PA and Lancaster County Chiefs of Police Association, and is a member of the FBI National Academy Associates Eastern PA Chapter.

During his twenty-five year career Josh spent over fifteen years as a street supervisor, was in charge of the agencies crash team, firearms division, and field training program. Josh spent 19 years with the Lancaster County Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) where he was named SWAT officer of the year in 2013 and received the “Mrs. Smith” award from the South Central Task Force in 2019. Josh served as the Deputy Commander from 2015 until his resignation from the unit in 2019.  As a student of leadership and organizational development, Josh has served as an adjunct instructor at Harrisburg Area Community College and participated as a guest instructor with the Pennsylvania State Police Leadership Development Program.

Josh holds both a Bachelor's of Science degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Business, and a Master's of Science degree in Strategic Leadership, both from Elizabethtown College. Josh is a graduate of the FBI LEEDS program, PA State Police Leadership Development program, and the FBI National Academy - class 258. Josh is responsible for the research and development of the LEADER*ONE promotional system currently being evaluated for publication and distribution.

Michael Piacentino is currently employed with the Manheim Township Police Department in Lancaster County, PA.  He was hired in 2003, promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 2012, and advanced into an administrative Sergeant position in 2017.  In addition to overseeing and performing the administrative functions of the department, Michael was also named the department's public information officer (PIO) and accreditation manager at the same time.   In early 2021, he was promoted to Lieutenant and currently serves as the commander of the Administrative Services Division, in addition to being PIO and the accreditation manager.   Michael's police department has been accredited through the Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission (PLEAC) since 2007, and most recently obtained its fifth re-accreditation in 2020, while under his command as accreditation manager.  His agency is expected to attain PLEAC Premier status in 2023.

Michael joined the Pennsylvania Police Accreditation Coalition (PPAC) in 2017 in order to collaborate with other accreditation managers throughout the Commonwealth.  He became a mock assessor during that same year, aiding other police departments in their successful journey through the accreditation process.  In 2019, he ran for the Treasurer's position on the PPAC Executive Board and was unanimously voted in.  In 2020, he was once again nominated to serve in that assignment.  He is a 2009 graduate from Millersville University, obtaining a Bachelor's of Arts degree in Criminology.  He is also enrolled in a Master's of Science Criminal Justice program at Penn State University.

Michael strongly believes in the accreditation process and the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association's Law Enforcement Accreditation Program.  He recognizes the benefits of establishing professional standards and objectives for police departments to adhere to in order to increase accountability, transparency, and community support and trust.  In late 2020, Michael joined LEAS as he recognized that the founders of this company shared the same vision of accreditation as he does, and saw LEAS as being an excellent conduit to further the accreditation program throughout the Commonwealth.

Michael lives in Lancaster County with his wife, two children, a doberman named Rosie, and a miniature horse named Franklin.  In 2019, Michael and Franklin trained and became a registered therapy animal team with KPETS, a local non-profit organization.  This volunteer position sends Michael and Franklin into area nursing homes, schools, and other social venues to promote well-being by sharing the power of human/animal interactions.

 Jill Sauermelch currently serves as the Accreditation Manager for the Lower Providence Township Police Department, where she has been employed since 2021. In addition to managing their accreditation, Jill is also the Executive Assistant to the Chief of Police and responsible for several other administrative duties. The Lower Providence Township Police Department has been accredited through the Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission (PLEAC) since 2006, and most recently obtained its fifth re-accreditation in 2021; Jill is responsible for ensuring that the police department retains their accredited status in 2024, which is also when the agency is expected to attain Premier status. 

Jill is qualified to be an assessor for the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association’s Law Enforcement Accreditation Program and serves as a mock assessor with the Pennsylvania Police Accreditation Coalition (PPAC). Jill also serves as PPACs Mock Coordinator for the central region of Commonwealth. 

Jill attended Lock Haven University where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a minor in sociology. She lives in Montgomery County with her husband and two daughters. In her free time, Jill enjoys cycling, running, traveling, and spending time with her family.