SEQUIM — The Sequim Police Department has earned accreditation from the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs.
The department is one of 76 in the state, out of 260 law enforcement agencies, to be accredited.
“Re-accreditation demonstrates our commitment to professional service to our community by ensuring we are following best practices in policing,” Sequim Police Chief Mike Hill said. “The Sequim Police Department became an accredited agency in 2016 and has successfully maintained it, through reassessment every four years. I’m proud of our officers and staff for their continued dedication to excellent service to everyone who lives, works and visits the city of Sequim.”
Law enforcement agency accreditation helps to professionalize the law enforcement by providing a review process to certify that agencies are operating under the best industry practices and standards.
Some of the standards that are reviewed are use of force, records management, unusual occurrences, recruitment and selection, training, performance evaluation, internal affairs and prisoner security.
Benefits of police accreditation include increased public confidence in the agency, broadened perspectives, assurance that recruitment, selection and promotion processes are fair and equitable, improvement of agency morale and pride, and state and local recognition of professional competence.
For more information, call the Sequim Police Department at 360-683-7227 or visit www.waspc.org/accreditation.
