Pennsylvania’s Law Enforcement Accreditation Program came to the Commonwealth in July 2001. Since then 56 agencies have attained accredited status. Warminster Police is the second Bucks County agency accredited by the Pennsylvania Chiefs joining Falls Township.

The cornerstone of the accreditation strategy lies in the promulgation of standards containing a clear statement of professional objectives. Through analysis existing operations can be adapted to meet these objectives,

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and once procedures are in place, a team of independent professionals is assigned to verify that all applicable standards have been successfully implemented. The process culminates with a decision by the Pennsylvania Chief of Police Accreditation Commission that the agency is worthy of accreditation.

The Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Accreditation Program was designed and developed by professional law enforcement executives to provide a reasonable and cost effective plan for the professionalization of law enforcement agencies within the Commonwealth. The underlying philosophy of the program is to have a user-friendly undertaking for the departments that will result in a “success” oriented outcome.

The process involved complex work by agency personnel over a period of approximately 2 years, creating, modifying and implementing policies and procedures. In early June the Warminster Police Department was assessed by a peer group of law enforcement professionals who recommended accreditation to the Commission.