Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato and Acting Sheriff William T. Sommeling today announced that the Office of the Ocean County Prosecutor and Sheriff’s Department received State Accreditation from the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police. This coveted status is awarded after two years of intense reviews and grading. The New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police Accreditation Commission bestowed the honor at a meeting of their commissioners in Princeton Township, NJ.
“Members of my office worked tirelessly to win accreditation. This significant achievement brings elite status within law enforcement. Accreditation means that we are recognized for using the best practices in modern policing and that we serve as a model for other law enforcement agencies,” said Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato.
“I join prosecutor Coronato in congratulating both agencies upon their respective achievement of accreditation in law enforcement,” stated Acting Ocean County Sheriff William T. Sommeling. “The process is long and tedious, but the effort is well worth it. This accreditation gives professional standing that very few achieve.
The award is the culmination of a two-year process that included on-site inspections from assessment teams representing the commission. Assessors reviewed policies and procedures, examined files, conducted interviews of staff members, and inspected facilities.
Presently, less than 20% of New Jersey law enforcement agencies can claim the honor of accreditation. The County of Ocean becomes the fifth county in New Jersey where both the Prosecutor’s Office and Sheriff’s Department hold joint accreditation status.
Accreditation is for a period of three years and the agencies are constantly tasked with providing proof of compliance. The program brings several significant benefits and it is a valuable management strategy for improvement. It enhances public safety services by comparing the Office of the Ocean County Prosecutor and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department to the best procedures currently used by law enforcement and assures any non-compliant areas are up to those standards. Additionally, it creates accountability to a respected benchmarking group that knows the work of modern policing. Public trust is ultimately bolstered by the accreditation process. [TLS]