June 26, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 3 Ho-Ho-Kus Borough to take fresh look at accreditation by Jennifer Crusco Ho-Ho-Kus officials have decided to take another look at the possibility of having the borough’s police department pursue national accreditation. At last week’s council meeting, Ho-Ho-Kus Borough Attorney David Bole advised the governing body that he and Ho-Ho-Kus Chief Financial Officer Joseph Citro had recently discussed the accreditation concept. Bole told the council that several neighboring communities have successfully pursued accreditation for their police departments, adding that accreditation can help municipalities save on insurance expenses and reduce exposure to litigation. Describing the accreditation process, Bole said professionals visit a police department for an extensive evaluation that includes reviews of police procedures, bylaws, and promotion policies. He said the accreditation procedure is usually put out to bid, adding that an organization known as the Rogers Group generally conducts the evaluations. The attorney indicated that $25,000 could be available from the Joint Insurance Fund should the borough decide to pursue the accreditation process. Bole, who is also the borough attorney for Allendale, said that municipality had already received $25,000 for the same purpose. Bole said the entire cost of accreditation could be $35,000 to $39,000, and reported that Citro indicated that funds are available to cover the balance. “It’s an investment,” Ho-Ho-Kus Mayor Thomas Randall said. “We’ve been fortunate over the years,” he added, noting that accreditation would save the department exposure to potential claims. Pointing out that accreditation would not only help in terms of potential litigation, but also in terms of improving the standards within the police department, Councilman Kevin Shea said, “It’s money well spent.” Councilman Steve Shell asked if the JIF was providing a multi-year benefit, or a single $25,000 payout. Randall said the funding would be a one-time grant. Bole added that there would be no guarantees regarding future insurance premiums, even if the department successfully pursues the accreditation process. In 2010, Ho-Ho-Kus resident Leo Strauss asked borough officials to review what benefits could be realized by having the police department pursue national accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. – informally known as CALEA. At that time, Mahwah Police Chief James N. Batelli told Villadom TIMES about the process his department followed in attaining accreditation, and outlined some of the related costs and benefits. At that time, Batelli said his agency fell into the category of 25-1,999 full-time employees. He said the department was paying $12,590 every three years, which included the approximate cost of the onsite assessment. He indicated that the township was paying annual continuation fees of $4,195. At that time, his department was realizing a savings of approximately $7,000 in liability insurance premiums each year. According to Batelli, the department also stands to save in instances where officers are charged with negligence. He pointed out that, while mistakes can happen, accredited departments must have detailed, written policies and procedures for officers to follow. The attention to this type of (continued on page 17)