PORT ANGELES –The Port Angeles Police Department has set itself apart on a statewide level.
Several Port Angeles officers and staff just returned from the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs conference in Chelan, where they were awarded another accreditation award.
PAPD is one of about 60 accredited agencies in Washington State out of about 300 law enforcement agencies.
Accreditation is an outside inspection process where accreditors evaluate compliance with 137 standards. A department must meet or exceed all 137 best practices in order to achieve accreditation.
The process allows for departments to overcome issues that turn up during the inspection. Remarkably, PAPD was one of only four departments that passed inspection on day 1 with no issues to address.
Deputy Chief Jason Viada:
“This could not have been done without our accreditation mentor Lorraine Shore from the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office. PAPD previously successfully completed accreditation in 2015, 2011, 2003 and 1992.”
PAPD photos: Banner photo left to right: WASPC Director of Professional Services Mike Painter, Deputy Chief Jason Viada, Chief Brian Smith with Award, Sergeant Kori Malone, and Corporal David Dombrowski. Above, Records Supervisor Carla Jacobi with Award.