State Police Chiefs Association re-accredits department for sixth time
OCEAN CITY — The Ocean City Police Department received re-accreditation for the sixth time, a first among New Jersey’s roughly 570 law enforcement agencies.
Harry Delgado, program manager for the New Jersey Association of Chiefs of Police Law Enforcement Accreditation Program, made a presentation at the Ocean City Council meeting Thursday evening, saying the OCPD and Chief John Prettyman are setting an example for agencies across the state.
Delgado said what made his appearance before council different is that of all the agencies, Ocean City’s is the first to receive re-accreditation six times.
To date, Delgado said, 43 percent of the state’s law enforcement agencies have been successful in accreditation. Every three years there is a re-accreditation when the association returns to ensure the agencies are continuing the meet the standards.
The number of departments earning the first re-accreditation drops to 32 percent. For a second re-accreditation, that drops to 12 percent. A third time the number falls to 7.89 percent and a fourth time to 2.2 percent.
Less than 1 percent have done it five times, Delgado said.
He pointed out Ocean City is one of the original agencies to become accredited in the state of New Jersey.
“That’s truly remarkable and worth my trip here,” Delgado said.
He explained the significance of accreditation and re-accreditation.
Earning that shows the OCPD makes a commitment to adhere to best practices on the state and national levels.
The program “is purposefully designed to enhance the professionalism and transparency in the state public safety system,” he said, adding in these uniquely challenging times of threats to health and safety, encouraging law enforcement agencies to follow standardized practices is a “potentially life-saving and cost-effective investment of time and resources.”
Delgado said accreditation gives an agency a preparedness plan and a verification of excellence and its status represents a significant professional achievement.
In the OCPD, it is part of their culture, he said. Since 2006 it has been embedded in the way they deliver police services to the community. Every three years a team returns to make sure the department complies to standards.
Delgado then paraphrased the report: the OCPD is an exemplary agency that prides itself on a strong commitment to the community and the high standards of policing. Chief Prettyman and his team fully embrace the accreditation process, specifically in the area of policy development, best police practices, internal compliance, technology and equipment and community engagement.
The OCPD “serves as a model” for other agencies in Cape May County and the state of New Jersey, he said. The review looks for “blemishes.” The OCPD didn’t have any. They had a “remarkable” onsite evaluation, Delgado said.
It is the opinion of the assessors — Delgado said he certainly agreed — that under the leadership of Chief Prettyman, the high level of competence, leadership and professionalism is evident within the agency. Leadership, rank and file are forward-thinking and agents of improvement.
It is the opinion of the assessment team that the OCPD is a highly professional law enforcement agency that exemplifies standards on a state and national level, he said, “so it is indeed my honor to congratulate John J. Prettyman, chief, accreditation manager Patrick Walsh, members of the Ocean City Police Department, council president, mayor and citizens they so proudly serve … for their sixth reaccreditation, joining an exclusive group of law enforcement agencies that have made this commitment to excellence in policing.”
Prettyman said he had the good fortune of being the accreditation manager the first time assessors came to Ocean City.
He gave credit to the police officers who every day follow the procedures, build the bridges and develop the programs.
“They’re the ones who earned that for us,” he said.
He called Walsh the quarterback of the process this year.
“This is the first time he has issued this award for the sixth time, so it’s pretty amazing we’re the first,” Prettyman said.
In his weekly letter, Mayor Jay Gillian wrote, “Our police do exceptional work throughout the year in keeping us all safe. But in this day and age, it’s also important to know that our department is accountable, transparent and fully responsive to the needs of the community. This is a great honor.”
By DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
