Contact: Gary Schaffer, Sheriff
(609 465-1233
Photo l to r: Freeholder Vice-Director Leonard C. Desiderio, Sheriff Gary Schaffer, Undersheriff Robert Nolan and Harry Delgado
CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE, NJ --On April 27, 2017, a team of assessors from the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police (NJSACOP) conducted an on-site assessment of the Sheriff’s Office for the purpose of re-accreditation. The Accreditation Certificate program is a progressive and time-proven way of helping law enforcement agencies calculate and improve their overall performances. Part of the accreditation process includes an in-house review of 105 standards that is completed prior to the arrival of the team of NJSACOP assessors.
Sheriff Gary Schaffer announced at the Freeholder meeting that the Cape May County Sheriff’s Office passed the re-accreditation process. The Accreditation Certificate was presented by NJSACOP Accreditation Program Manager, Harry Delgado, at the June 27, 2017 meeting. The Accreditation Certificate is for three years and is effective June 2017 through June 2020.
Schaffer explained, “The certification process is conducted by an independent reviewing authority, the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, have established a set of state and national standards used to evaluate the operational procedures at the facility. Agencies seeking accreditation must meet or exceed accepted practices in the field of law enforcement. My staff, under the direction of Undersheriff Robert Nolan, worked diligently to ensure Cape May County met the stringent criteria required for accreditation.”
Schaffer added, “The accreditation program is a progressive and time-proven way of helping law enforcement agencies evaluate and improve their overall performance. The foundation of earning the Accreditation Certificate lies in the adoption of standards that contain a clear statement of professional objectives. Participating agencies conduct a thorough self-analysis to determine how existing operations can be adapted to meet these objectives. Once in place, a team of trained assessors verifies that applicable standards have been successfully implemented. The Accreditation Certificate status represents a significant professional achievement and acknowledges the implementation of policies and procedures that are conceptually sound and operationally effective.”
Photo l to r: Freeeholder E. Marie Hayes, Freeholder Vice-Director Leonard C. Desiderio, Freeholder Director Gerald M. Thornton, Sheriff Gary Schaffer, Freeholder Jeffrey L. Pierson, Undersheriff Robert Nolan, Harry Delgado and Freeholder Will Morey
As a result of the assessment, the Cape May County Sheriff’s Office was determined to be compliant with all of the required standards of the program and recommended by the team of assessors to the Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission (LEAC) of the (NJSACOP), to receive re-accreditation status.
Once accredited, law enforcement agencies are required every three (3) years to be assessed to ensure compliance in an effort to maintain accredited status. When initial accreditation was achieved, Cape May County was the 4th county in the State where the Sheriff’s Office and Prosecutor’s Office attained accreditation.
Freeholder Leonard C. Desiderio, liaison to the Sheriff’s Office congratulated Sherriff Schaffer, Undersheriff Robert Nolan and the staff for the prestigious recognition and re-accreditation certificate. Desiderio explained, “Obtaining accreditation status is an honor among the law enforcement community, and represents a significant professional achievement. Only 34% of the 537 plus law enforcement agencies in New Jersey, and only 8% of those agencies receive re-accreditation. This is a testament to the hard work, professionalism and caliber of the leadership and officers that serve Cape May County.”