Woodburn Police Department re-ups accreditation

Woodburn Police Department recently renewed its accreditation for the period of 2024-27, the fifth accreditation the department has earned this century.

WPD Chief Marty Pilcher apprised the Woodburn City Council of the renewal during the June 24 meeting, during which he noted that the department first earned accreditation in 2011 under Chief Scott Russell. Accreditation is renewed every three years.

“I had the opportunity to be the accreditation manager for our 2021 to 2024 period, and Deputy Chief Jason Millican took on that responsibility for this most current accreditation,” Pilcher said.

Pilcher said the accreditation system establishes a uniform set of best practices for police agencies that are consistent on a national scale. Those practices are verified by an independent entity for compliance. He said it ensures accountability to the community, elected policy makers and day to day officers on the street.

“Within the law enforcement standards, best practices are compliance requirements dealing with life, health, safety and high-liability exposures,” Pilcher said.

The Northwest Accreditation Alliance was designated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office as the overseers of the accreditation and certification of compliance in accordance with the U.S. Department of Justice standards founded on safe policing principles.

According to its mission statement, the NAA: "exists to improve the quality of law enforcement and 9-1-1 agencies in the States of Oregon and Alaska and, ultimately the quality of services provided to the citizens of both states.

"The Northwest Accreditation Alliance proudly provides law enforcement and communications 9-1-1 accreditation to qualified law enforcement and 9-1-1 agencies in Oregon and Alaska. The U.S. Attorney General’s Office has designated the Northwest Accreditation Alliance as the State of Oregon’s independent credentialing body for the purpose of certifying compliance with the U.S. Department of Justice standards of certification on safe policing principles."

That oversight proves fruitful locally.

“Accreditation provides independent confirmation that policies comply with professional standards, provides greater administrative and operational effectiveness, ensures continuous systemized self-assessment of policies, procedures and operational practices, decreases exposure to civil liability and costly settlements, which leads to potential reductions in premiums for liability insurance, and provides state and local acknowledgement of professional competence,” Pilcher said.

Pilcher explained that there are more than 100 different standards involved in the accreditation process. Each standard must be met and confirmed.

“That proof cannot just be that we did it once in a three-year period, but that we do it consistently – always, throughout that period,” Pilcher said.

Pilcher brought the framed accreditation certificate to the meeting and thanked Woodburn’s public officials for giving WPD the tools it needs to “attain and maintain this accreditation.”

Woodburn’s elected representatives were equally thankful.

“Congratulations on that, chief,” Woodburn Mayor Frank Lonergan said. “And I would like to thank Deputy Chief Millican for his work on that also along with you.”