28 July 2023- Last year, the Chambersburg Police Department took on the challenge of becoming an accredited police agency in Franklin County. On Tuesday, July 25th, the challenge became a reality. At the 110th Annual Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Annual Education & Training Conference, the Chambersburg Police Department was unanimously approved for Accreditation. Members of the Chambersburg Police Department worked tirelessly to achieve this crown jewel in the world of policing in Pennsylvania.
Accreditation is a progressive and time-proven way of helping institutions evaluate and improve their overall performance. The cornerstone of this strategy lies in the promulgation of standards containing a clear statement of professional objectives. Participating administrators then conduct a thorough analysis to determine how existing operations can be adapted to meet these objectives. When the 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 an authoritative body that the institution is worthy of accreditation.
The Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Accreditation Program was designed and developed by professional law enforcement executives to provide a reasonable and effective plan for the professionalization of law enforcement agencies within the Commonwealth.
Chief Camacho, Inspector Meredith Dominick, (also serving as Accreditation Manager), newly promoted Lieutenant Matt Bietsch, and recently retired, Lieutenant Jon Greenawalt, worked with LEXIPOL, a policy consultant company that provides policy writing assistance based on nationwide standards and best practices while also incorporating state and federal laws and regulations where appropriate. These policies are researched and written by subject matter experts and vetted by attorneys.
Most importantly, our department could not have attained Accreditation status without the support and assistance from EVERY officer in the Chambersburg PD. This is a departmental certification, not an individual one.
Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission, (PLEAC) assessors came to Chambersburg for two days and reviewed all of our policies and procedures, inspected our vehicles and equipment and interviewed officers during ride-a-longs and during time on station.
They toured our physical police facility here on Orchard Drive as well as our newly renovated home at 116 S. Second Street. The assessors found that Chambersburg Police Department officers hold themselves to higher standards, are professional in their conduct, utilize best practices in their policing efforts and are worthy of accreditation!
The Chambersburg Police Department is the second police agency in Franklin County to receive accreditation and is only one of approximately 150 agencies to be accredited in the Commonwealth. Chambersburg residents can take pride in knowing that their police department is one of the best in South Central Pennsylvania.
A special thank you to Ken Hock, Chambersburg’s Mayor, and Council Members: Allen Coffman, (Council President), Bill Everly, (Council Vice President), Alice Elia, John Huber, Thomas Newcomer, Kathy Leedy, Dominique Brown, Sharon Bigler, Weston Waytow, Larry Hensley, who passed away in May, 2023, and Borough Manager, Jeffrey Stonehill, for their continued support throughout the process.
Seen in the photograph from left to right are: Chief Lee Benson, West Whiteland Police Department and Vice Chairman, Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission Member, Dr. Ron Camacho, Chief of Police for Chambersburg, Meredith Dominick, Inspector and Accreditation Manager for the CPD and Mr. Scott Bohn, Executive Director of the Pa Chiefs of Police Association.
