Crime & Safety
Bernards Township Police Re-accredited; Reduces Insurance Liability
Assessment of 112 standards results in renewal of accreditation status.
Bernards Township Police Chief Brian Bobowicz and the Bernards Township Committee have announced that the Bernards Township Police Department has achieved Law Enforcement Accreditation status through the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police.
The award was the culmination of a two-day on-site assessment by NJSACOP assessors, according to the police department. Re-accreditation for the department, initially awarded in November 2007, was given again at a hearing on Feb. 14 in Princeton, said the news release from Bobowicz.
Bernards Township Committeeman John Carpenter said last week that the renewal of the department's accreditation status translates into insurance benefits for the township, as well as indicating that the police force meets the highest standards.
Find out what's happening in Basking Ridgewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The chief of police association's assessors reviewed 112 standards of which the department had to comply, covering practices and policies as they relate to items such as law enforcement role and authority, administration and organization, internal affairs and day to day operations, according to information from the police department.
Assessments occur every three years, and this is the second time Bernards Township consecutively has been awarded accreditation status, the police department's release said. Bernards Township is only one of four municipal police departments in Somerset County with such accreditation status, according to Bernards police.
Find out what's happening in Basking Ridgewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
"I am very proud of the men and women of this department who conduct themselves in the professional manner in which they do every day, making it possible for us to achieve accreditation status," Bobowicz said.
The chief also said that completing the accreditation process allows the township to recieve premium discounts on liability insurance.
"Accreditation is a method of ensuring nationally recognized best practices for law enforcement are being successfully implemented to reach a professional objective," the police news release said.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.