Three Delaware police agencies achieve state reaccreditation

DOVER, Del. - The Delaware Police Officer Standards and Training Commission (POST), a division of the Department of Safety and Homeland Security (DSHS), has announced that three more Delaware police departments have successfully achieved reaccreditation by the Delaware Police Accreditation Commission (DPAC) at its recent meeting.

The agencies are the Newport Police Department (three-year), Greenwood Police Department (two-year), and the Ocean View Police Department (three-year). DPAC assessors evaluated each of the agencies by reviewing the department's policies, procedures, and practices. Them DPAC team also conducted a comprehensive onsite inspection and interviewed department members to ensure all accreditation standards were met.

House Bill 206 mandates that all police agencies must be accredited by 2028. All police departments are currently proactively working towards state accreditation through the POST/DPAC section of DSHS.

The Delaware Police Accreditation Commission (DPAC) has adopted over 100 standards related to professional policing. The DPAC is active in its mission to advance law enforcement in Delaware through the establishment of professional standards and the administration of a formal mechanism by which Delaware agencies can be systematically measured, evaluated, and updated. The POST website maintains a list of current accredited police agencies in Delaware.

[Link]Newport Police Department Reaccreditation: From left, Police Advisory Council member Alford Williams, Police Advisory Council member Pastor Gregory Vickers, Chief Mark Wohner, DSHS Secretary Joshua Bushweller, POST Executive Director Sean Moriarity, and DPAC Administrator John Feehan. [Link]Greenwood Police Department Reaccreditation: From left to right: Lt. William Thomas, Chief David Walton, DSHS Secretary Joshua Bushweller, POST Executive Director Sean Moriarity, and DPAC Administrator John Feehan. [Link]Ocean View Police Department Reaccreditation: From left: Captain Heath Hall, Kendahl Hearn, Chief Kenneth McLaughlin, DSHS Secretary Joshua Bushweller, POST Executive Director Sean Moriarity, and DPAC Administrator John Feehan.

ABOUT THE POLICE OFFICER STANDARDS AND TRAINING COMMISSION

The Delaware Police Officer Standards and Training Commission (POST), a division of the Department of Safety and Homeland Security (DSHS), oversees standards and training for all police officers in Delaware. POST aims to improve the professionalism and behavior of officers by setting qualifications for new recruits, education and training requirements, and training standards. POST advises the Delaware Police Accreditation Commission (DPAC), provides guidelines for local oversight boards, and investigates potential officer misconduct relative to certification.