Chauncey Parker, New York State Director of Criminal Justice, presents a formal notice of the accreditation of all of Monroe County's Law Enforcement agencies to Brockport Police Chief Daniel Varrenti while Gates Police Chief Tom Roche looks on. The document was presented at the Monroe County Training Center on December 3. Brockport's accreditation certificate will be awarded later at a town board meeting. With the addition of the Brockport department, all 12 of the law enforcement agencies in Monroe County are fully accredited, which means each one of these departments has met 130 strict standards for service. According to Parker: "This is an historic accomplishment. It sets a gold standard for the other 61 counties in New York state." Monroe County is the first county in NYS to have all its law enforcement agencies fully accredited; currently there are about 107 accredited agencies throughout the state. Photograph by Walter Horylev.

Brockport Police Department earns accreditation

After more than two years of working toward receiving accreditation, the Brockport Police Department has achieved that milestone. The department was recognized at a ceremony on Friday, December 3. And along with Brockport's achievement with earning accreditation, Monroe County was also put on the map as the first county in New York state to have all 12 of its police departments accredited.

"This is a proud accomplishment, not only for Brockport but for the county," Gates Chief of Police Tom Roche said. "Receiving accreditation reassures the community that all of the agencies in this county have met the rigorous standards that the state has set for accreditation."

Roche said he was also extremely proud of the fact that Monroe is the first county in the state to have all of its departments attain accreditation.

Rochester Police Chief Robert Duffy said in a press release that New York is the first state in the nation to incorporate the leadership training and the accreditation on such a broad statewide basis. "I strongly believe that law enforcement training and accreditation is critical for law enforcement because it reinforces principles, character, service and integrity, which make up the foundation of our profession."

The process of accreditation involves an update of the department's general orders, and adherence to those orders, as well as on-site investigation conducted by the Law Enforcement Accreditation Council to assure that the department meets the 130 standards set forth by the state.

Brockport's Sergeant Douglas Ziegler was the accreditation manager. In that role, Ziegler was charged with rewriting the general orders manual and assuring adherence to the newly implemented orders.

"Sergeant Ziegler did a remarkable job as the accreditation manager," Brockport Chief of Police Dan Varrenti said. "However, like myself, if I didn't have a good accreditation manager this process would have failed but then if the sergeant didn't have good employees to work with him he would have failed."

Varrenti said that it is in thanks to every member of the department that Brockport achieved its goal.

Mayor Josephine Matela said that when Varrenti was hired, one of the priorities set forth was to get the department accredited.

"It was a wonderful team effort, led by Sergeant Ziegler, in getting the 130 general orders in line to meet the accreditation standards. I commend the department and the chief for following through on his commitment to the board."

As for what's ahead, Varrenti said, "With the accreditation process a department can't rest on its laurels. Re-accreditation takes place in five years and in order to be re-accredited you have to show continued compliance to the accreditation standards and there has to be a day to day process to ensure we achieve re-accreditation." Varrenti said as far as he was concerned the steps toward re-accreditation began the same day the department was honored for achieving its first milestone.