After two years of preparation, the West Windsor Police Department will be evaluated on whether the squad is worthy of state accreditation. Police Chief Joseph Pica ears to meet the standards set by the New Jersey Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission, and asks residents to attend a public input session for the evaluators on Sunday, February 11 at 7:00 p.m. at the township municipal court.##M:[more]##
Residents who cannot attend can still provide input by calling (609) 799-3516on Monday, February 12, between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.
Comments will be limited to five minutes, both in person and on the telephone. Comments must address the police department’s ability to comply with the accreditation standards. Standards can be found at the police department, or on its website at https://www.westwindsorpolice.com/AccredStand.pdf.
There are 146 standards according to the New Jersey Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission., If West Windsor passes, it would be the second town in Mercer County to do so. Princeton Boro was the first, and Ewing is due to be evaluated next.
Sergeant William Bastedo has spearheaded the West Windsor campaign for accreditation. Bastedo is in his 20th year with the department, and is himself an assessor. He says the department has always been up to the standards, but has had to improve its documentation of operations to be able to provide proof of its compliance. “”The process has gotten us to realize what our goals are. Everybody has been involved, and everyone is on the same page,”” says Bastedo.
The department has examined itself throughout its campaign for accreditation, and according to Bastedo, is better off for it. As a result of looking at its own operations, it has improved its personnel management, career counseling, and evidence handling system. Bastedo says the department is well prepared for its review. “”I can’t anticipate any problems,”” he said.
^ccording to Pica, accreditation will bring lower costs for liability insurance, thereby reducing the annual operations cost of the department. In addition to that, he says it is important for the men in the department to be recognized for the work they do.
“The overall purpose of going through the process is to improve our delivery of service to the public. It’s made us review ourselves, and set standards of operations for our officers,”” said Pica. “”It will give our officers a sense of pride to know what they’re doing is recognized.””
