Warrenton PD gains state accreditation

It’s on every town police car, but most people probably don’t even notice.

Every cruiser has a decal indicating the Warrenton Police Department is a state-accredited law enforcement agency.

In order to earn that honor, the department has to go through an extensive review by outside assessors every four years.

The most recent review happened back in October, and Warrenton police recently learned they passed with flying colors.

Members of the assessment team will present a certificate to the agency at the Town Council’s Dec. 13 meeting.

“I think all of the officers here have a greater appreciation of what that means now that they’ve been through the [re-accreditation process],” said Megan Gerald, the department’s accreditation manager.

The process ensures that each agency’s policies and procedures conform with established standards, Gerald said.

“The average person might not think that anyone polices the police, but that’s [essentially what this is],” Gerald said.

The assessors evaluate every aspect of the agency. The first thing they did when they arrived in Warrenton Oct. 17 was inspect all of the agency’s equipment, from its bikes, motor bikes and cruisers to firearms and other “tools of the trade.”

They spent the next couple of days reviewing the agency’s policies and procedures to make sure they not only comply with the existing standards, but that the compliance is documented.

In all there are 187 standards, Gerald said.

“You have to be extremely organized [to become accredited and retain accreditation],” she added.

The attention to detail paid off, according to Kellie M. Meehan, the assessment team leader.

“The Warrenton Police Department was well-prepared for the assessment,” she said. “It was apparent that they had worked hard to prepare their personnel and present a professional image.”

Both Meehan and Acting Police Chief Lou Battle said Gerald played a key role in helping the department prepare for the assessment.

“Accreditation Manager Megan Gerald is to be commended for her preparation of the files and her interpersonal skills in dealing with team members. She has a very good grasp of the process and was encouraged to remain active with upcoming training opportunities,” Meeham said.

By successfully completing the re-accreditation process, the Warrenton Police Department retained its standing as one of 85 state-accredited law enforcement agencies in Virginia.