The Centralia Police Department has successfully completed a rigorous accreditation program that certifies it is operating under best practices and standards for law enforcement, the department announced Tuesday.
Accreditation is voluntary and is open to all general law enforcement agencies that are responsible for enforcing criminal and traffic laws.
Washington state’s accreditation program is administered by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) and involves a seven-phase evaluation process over several months.
“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,” WASPC states on its website.
“Being accredited by WASPC means the Centralia Police Department has achieved the highest professional standards for policing,” the Centralia Police Department stated in a news release, adding that it pursued accreditation “to demonstrate our commitment to enhancing public trust, improving operational standards, promoting accountability, reducing liability and risk, and ensuring that our officers have the training and tools necessary to meet our mission of protecting the quality of life in our community.”
Accreditation is awarded for a period of four years. During those four years, annual audits are conducted to maintain accountability and foster continuous improvement, according to a news release.
“Police accountability is important to ensure and improve public trust,” said Steven Strachan, WASPC executive director, “the Centralia Police Department took these direct and tangible steps to earn the public’s confidence in their operations. The community should be proud of the men and women who serve them every day.”
WASPC first developed an accreditation program in 1976 as directed by the Washington State Legislature. The current accreditation program was updated in 2007 and is continually updated as needed, according to WASPC.
For more information about the accreditation program, visit https://www.waspc.org/accreditation.
