Police Department

Spokane Police Department earns WASPC re-accreditation

Michele Anderson, Public Safety Communications Manager

Monday, November 26, 2018 at 10:10 a.m.

At the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) annual conference, the Spokane Police Department (SPD) was presented with an award for obtaining state re-accreditation.

“Re-accreditation was a lengthy process that started more than a year and a half ago,” says Police Chief Craig Meidl. “The degree of review by WASPC at every level of the organization, within every bureau and unit, ensures we are providing the quality of service that the Spokane community expects of their police department.”

Although there are more than 300 law enforcement agencies in Washington state eligible to participate in the accreditation process, only about 17 % of agencies achieve accreditation. SPD is one of 50 state agencies to achieve accreditation through WASPC.

The purpose of accreditation is to professionalize the law enforcement industry by providing a review process for agencies to be certified as operating under the industry’s best practices. Accrediting departments are held to these best practices by meeting 137 accreditation standards set by the WASPC Accreditation Commission.

The re-accreditation process includes a thorough review and audit of various areas including training, use of force, fiscal management, health and safety, records management, evidence control, patrol function, investigative function and internal affairs. The benefits of the accreditation process include improving administrative and operational effectiveness and decreasing susceptibility to litigation and costly civil court settlements.

The Spokane Police Department was originally accredited in 2014. WASPC accredited agencies are subject to re-accreditation every four years.

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