SOMERVILLE POLICE DEPT. COMPLETES TEXAS LAW ENFORCEMENT ACCREDITATION PROGRAM
The Somerville Police Department is now accredited by the Texas Police Chiefs Association (TPCA).
On Wednesday, the department was notified that it had received the award of “Accredited Law Enforcement Agency” from the TPCA’s Law Enforcement Accreditation Program. According to a release from Somerville Police Chief Jake Sullivan, the department becomes the 205th agency in the state to receive this accreditation.
Started in 2006, the program evaluates a police department’s compliance with over 170 best business practices for Texas law enforcement. The best practices cover all aspects of law enforcement operations, including use of force, protection of citizen rights, vehicle pursuits, property and evidence management, and patrol and investigative operations.
The department undertook the process to become accredited in April 2022, preparing proofs of compliance for best business practices. The voluntary process required Somerville police to conduct a critical self-review of agency policies, procedures, facilities and operations.
Upon completion of the internal review, an outside audit and review were requested. The final on-site review was conducted by trained police chiefs from other areas of the state. The result of the review was then sent to the TPCA’s Accreditation Committee for final analysis and the decision to award “Accredited” status.
Sullivan wrote in the release that the process “provided for an independent review of the department’s operations and should assure the citizens of Somerville that the police department is conforming to the current state of the art in law enforcement.”
The formal presentation of the award will take place during the Somerville City Council’s meeting on March 12th. The department will be recognized during the TPCA’s annual conference, also in March.