Ponca City Police Department receives  accreditation credentials

On Monday, the Ponca City Police Department received notification it was granted the coveted Award of Accreditation from the Oklahoma Association of Chiefs of Police, Oklahoma Law Enforcement Accreditation Program.

Agencies maintain that status by submitting to an independent on-site review every four years.

The concept of law enforcement accreditation began in the 1970s, when the need to upgrade the profession’s public image was apparent.  The goal was and still is to instill “professionalism” into every phase of law enforcement service.

In July 1996, the Oklahoma   Association of Chiefs of Police received a grant to implement a law enforcement accreditation program in Oklahoma.  A committee  including representatives from  municipal, county and state  law enforcement, municipal  assurance attorneys, and  law enforcement bargaining  units was  formed to review and develop  Oklahoma  appropriate law enforcement accreditation standards. The standards or best practices are intended to assist agencies in the efficient and effective delivery of law enforcement services.

The standards cover all aspects of operations,  including individual’s  rights, use of force, vehicle pursuits,  property  and evidence management,  and other administrative, patrol, and investigative  operations.

This voluntary  process  included an internal  agency  review  followed  by an on-site critical  assessment of the agency’s policies,  procedures,  facilities, and operations by a team of law enforcement professionals  from  outside the Ponca City Police Department.  A comprehensive assessment report  was  forwarded to the Oklahoma  Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission for  review  followed  by the final review and determination  by the Oklahoma  Association of Chiefs of Police  Executive  Board.

The Ponca City Police Department considers itself to be one of the best.  This process provided for an independent review of the department’s overall operations and should assure the citizens of Ponca City that its police department conforms to current professional standards and best practices.

The Ponca City Police Department received its first Award of Accreditation in 2005.