Ridgewood April 3, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • Page 3 Police department reaccredited after evaluation by John Koster The Ridgewood Police Department received its international reaccreditation certificate from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies March 23. To earn or maintain accreditation, police departments voluntarily subject themselves to continuous internal and independent reviews to ensure compliance with internationally accepted best practices. Departments being evaluated are inspected and must prove they are meeting or exceeding more than 480 best practice standards in addition to the proofs which must be provided to demonstrate compliance with local, county, state, and federal laws and administrative regulations. “We’re very proud of the achievement,” said Ridgewood Police Chief John Ward. “Basically it’s a community effort and we’re going to keep working on it because we believe iot enhances the community.” In 1996, Ridgewood became the third police department in the State of New Jersey to achieve international accreditation status. The Ridgewood department was designated a flagship department by CALEA in 2010. Accreditation is a progressive and time-proven way of helping law enforcement agencies calculate and improve overall performance. The foundation of accreditation lies in the adoption of standards containing a clear statement of professional objectives. Participating agencies conduct a thorough self-analysis to determine how existing operations can be adapted to meet these objectives. When the procedures are in place, a team of trained assessors verifies that applicable standards have been successfully implemented. Accreditation status represents a significant professional achievement. Accreditation acknowledges the implementation of policies and procedures that are conceptually sound and operationally effective. The New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police has pursued the concept and development of a voluntary statewide law enforcement accreditation program for New Jersey. This effort has resulted in the formation of the NJSACOP Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission, consisting of commissioners appointed by the NJSACOP. Personnel from NJSACOP provide support services to the commission and to applicant agencies. Driver rescued A Honda Passport and Toyota Camry collided at the intersection of South Van Dien Avenue and Grove Street resulting in injuries to the occupants of both vehicles. The driver of the Camry was trapped in her vehicle until members of the Ridgewood Fire Department freed her by using the Jaws of Life. She was transported to The Valley Hospital by members of the Ridgewood Volunteer Ambulance Corps. The other injured party refused medical aid at the scene. Westbound traffic on Grove Street and northbound traffic on South Van Dien Avenue was detoured. Ridgewood Police Department officers under the command of Lt. Forest Lyons investigated the accident and provided traffic control. (Photo courtesy of Boyd A. Loving.)