The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) leads off a video on its site by noting that police accountability is important to ensure and improve public trust.

After participating in a multi-phase audit over several months — which includes WASPC examination of police departments’ best practices, accountability, organizational discipline and performance — the Mercer Island Police Department (MIPD) recently received reaccreditation.

MIPD Chief Ed Holmes is proud of his department for earning this four-year certification in what WASPC calls a professional, objective and demanding audit. MIPD has been accredited for many years, according to the city.

“This is a significant achievement by our officers and staff and signifies to our community that we hold ourselves to the highest standards of law enforcement for all on the Island,” said Holmes, adding that a group of WASPC auditors begin the process with a mock assessment to check the agency’s readiness and then perform an on-site assessment.

In its video, WASPC stresses that, “The keys to high-performing law enforcement and corrections organizations are good policies, training, supervision and a rigorous review of the department.”

The WASPC law enforcement accreditation standards package is robust and features, in part: health and safety, performance evaluation, role and authority, records management, and patrol, investigative and evidence and property control functions.

MIPD’s Jeff Magnan has served in the role of accreditation manager since 2017 and works closely with the WASPC assessors to show that the department’s policies align with best practices and prove that the department has implemented what the policies require, according to Holmes.

Magnan added that the standards are also based upon current case law from the State Supreme Court, U.S. Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court, and they also include all legislative changes at the state level that affect law enforcement.

“I appreciate the great job Jeff did getting us ready for the assessment, and I am very pleased to share with the community that their police department meets best practices in policing in this state,” Holmes said.

Moving ahead into 2022, Holmes said that some of MIPD’s goals will be ongoing preparation for the light rail station and bus intercept, preparation for adding Medina and Hunts Point to its marine patrol jurisdictional waters, recruiting and retention, and continuing to support the city’s ongoing response to the pandemic through its Emergency Management program.

For more information, visit https://www.waspc.org/.