On February 8, the Winchester Police Department received its official reaccreditation certificate from the Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission (VLEPSC).
In December of last year, a team of VLEPSC assessors visited the WPD and conducted a thorough review of the department’s policies, general orders, facilities, equipment, personnel, and public relations efforts. Today, the department was presented with the final judgments of the master assessors and the certificate at an official ceremony in the Manassas Park Community Center.
The VLEPSC was established in 1996 and is comprised of the Virginia Sheriffs’ Association, the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police, and the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services. The purpose of the commission is to “establish professional standards and administer the accreditation process by which Virginia agencies can be systematically measured, evaluated, and updated.”
The WPD has been fully accredited since 2009 and is one of only 98 law enforcement agencies currently accredited by the VLEPSC.
“I am pleased to accept this reaccreditation certificate on behalf of the hard-working men and women of the Winchester Police Department,” stated Winchester Police Chief John Piper. “This significant recognition confirms that the WPD is an extremely professional organization, comprised of officers and civilian support staff who work 24/7 to deliver world-class police services to our great community. We will continue to be on the cutting edge of law enforcement, and constantly strive to achieve excellence in our profession.”
For more information about the VLEPSC’s standards and goals, please visit the official website.