The Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) and the Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission (VLEPSC) congratulate the following agencies on their accreditation awards received at the November 17, 2011 Commission meeting held in Williamsburg, VA:

• Clarke Co. Sheriff's Office - Initial Award
• Bedford PD - 3rd award
• Botetourt Co. Sheriff's Office - 3rd award
• King George Co. Sheriff's Office - 3rd award
• Warrenton PD - 2nd award
• Chesterfield Co. PD - 4th award

TOTAL AGENCIES ACCREDITED: 85

In other business:

• The Commission approved the proposed revised VLEPSC Process and Procedures. Staff to disseminate in the near future.
• The Commission welcomed Chief Stan Olah of the Wintergreen Police Department as its newest Commissioner. He replaces Chief Toussaint Summers (Herndon PD) who retired last month.
• Discussed defining file returns. Staff and VLEPSC assessors to study further and report back to Commission.
• Staff to notify agencies in the self-assessment phase of the Commission's recent decision to place a forty-eight (48) month deadline on those in this phase to be officially assessed by VLEPSC. The Commission also voted to allow self-assessment phase agencies who have not been officially asssessed within the 48-month time frame to apply for an extension of twenty-four (24) months.

Next Meeting:

January 12, 2012 - Pulaski, Virginia

• James Madison University Police Department - Initial Award
• Warren Co. Sheriff's Office - 2nd award
• York-Poquoson Sheriff's Office - 3rd award
• Gloucester Co. Sheriff's Office - Initial award
• Henry Co. Sheriff's Office - Initial award

TOTAL AGENCIES ACCREDITED: 85

In other business:

• the Commission revised their appeals process
• the Commission defined the authority of the DCJS Program Manager
• the Commission tabled a file management proposal to accomodate agencies maintaining dual accreditation through VLEPSC and CALEA
• Commissioner Roche requested a change to the assessment process as it relates to reporting areas of non-occurrence. The Program Manager will implement this change and report back to the Commission.
• Commissioner Summers (Herndon PD) announced his retirement. The Commission and DCJS thank Chief Summers for his service to the Commission since 2000. The VACP is expected to name his replacement later this month.
• the Commission clarified the Newport News Sheriff's Office eligibility date to reapply to the VLEPSC as June 2, 2012. 
• the Commission extended the accreditation status of the Chesterfield Co. PD until the next regular Commission meeting. The agency was unable to be assessed due to power outages caused by Hurricane Irene. The program manager is in the process of rescheduling the assessment.

Next Meeting:

November 17, 2011 - Williamsburg, Virginia

• Mecklenburg Co. Sheriff's Office - Initial Award
• Danville Police Department - 4th award
• New Kent Co. Sheriff's Office - 3rd award
• Bristol Sheriff's Office - 2nd award
• Augusta Co. Sheriff's Office - 3rd award

The Commission recognized the following former Commission members for their service to the Commission:

• New Kent Co. Sheriff F.W. "Wakie" Howard, Jr. - a founding member - service from 1993-2011. Sheriff Howard was the last founding member serving on the Commission.
• Division of Capitol Police Chief Kimberly Lettner on her retirement. Chief Lettner served VLEPSC from 2010-2011
• Accomack Co. Sheriff Larry Giddens, Sr. on his retirement. Sheriff Giddens served VLEPSC from 2009-2011 and was also active previously as an accreditation manager and assessor.

The Commission welcomed two new Board members:

• Sheriff C.O. Balderson - Westmoreland Co. Sheriff's Office
• Sheriff Eric A. Atkins - City of Salem Sheriff's Office

The Commission also honored Capt. Robert "Bobby" Mawyer - Dept. of Game and Inland Fisheries, as the recipient of the distinguised 2011 Executive Board Award.

Each year the Commission recognizes one of their many dedicated and professional volunteers who give their time and themselves to staffing the many VLEPSC and Virginia Law Enforcement Accreditation Coalition (VALEAC) Committees, Subcommittees and serve as assessors and team leaders to ensure the important business of State Accreditation is accomplished.

Captain Mawyer has been involved in state accreditation for well over 6 years. He currently serves as the Treasurer for VALEAC and has been very active in trying to provide quality training to members of VALEAC through conference planning. He has been very active on mock assessments and has completed eight (8) official assessments, with one of those as team leader.

The Accreditation program does not routinely utilize assessors from agencies that are not VLEPSC accredited, but Capt. Mawyer has always demonstrated his dedication to the VLEPSC process through the years and is always willing to lend a hand to assist others seeking accreditation. He truly believes in the professionalization of law enforcement. His knowledge of our processes and standards is equaled to that of many of our seasoned assessors.

In other business:

• the Commission heard a presentation from Mr. Tom Cleator from the Virginia Crime Commission that focused on recent legislation regarding In-Person/Photographic lineups.
• the Commission took action on a change to the VLEPSC Process and Procedures that govern agencies that reenter the program after their accredited status has being revoked, expired or withdrawn. This change no longer mandates that the above agencies conduct mock assessments, as previously required.

Next Meeting:

September 8, 2011 - Herndon, Virginia

 Memo from Mr. Mike Hamp, City Manager, City of Waynesboro:

 I am pleased to announce Michael Wilhelm as the Chief of Police for the City of Waynesboro. Sergeant Wilhelm has   served in the Waynesboro Police Department since 1995 achieving promotion to Corporal in 2000 and Sergeant in 2004.

 Sergeant Wilhelm’s service is marked by initiative and accomplishment and includes work in patrol, investigations, special weapons and tactics, and Departmental accreditation.

 “I have confidence in Chief Wilhelm’s leadership abilities, critical thinking skills and expressed desire to maximize available departmental resources for the benefit of the community. Mike is eager to establish a unifying vision for the department, and establish a proactive approach to law enforcement, crime prevention, and overall service delivery to the community. He is a goal-oriented individual and will apply that commitment in his leadership and management style.”

 The recruitment for the position drew nearly 80 applications from more than 21 states. Nine candidates were selected for interviews and four individuals were identified as finalists for the position. Each of the candidates interviewed possessed impressive qualifications.

The appointment is effective at 11:30 AM, May 2, 2011.

From the Martinsville Bulletin - April 27, 2011:

Also Tuesday, the council recognized the Martinsville Police Department for achieving reaccreditation through the Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission. Gary Dillon, program manager for the Virginia Accreditation Center of the state Department of Criminal Justice Services, presented a certificate of reaccreditation to police Sgt. Patrick Agee and Janet Hiatt, administrative assistant to Police Chief Mike Rogers. Rogers said Agee and Hiatt were actively involved in the reaccreditation effort, such as through record-keeping practices and staying abreast of changes in laws pertaining to law enforcement. However, achieving reaccrediation was “a joint effort” by every employee of the police department, Rogers emphasized. Councilman Mark Stroud, a deputy with the Martinsville Sheriff’s Office, told Rogers that the police department has many outstanding employees. “They deserve every accolade they get,” Stroud said. Accreditation involves meeting more than 180 high performance standards, Dillon said, noting that only 83 of more than 400 law-enforcement agencies statewide have achieved it. He said that seeking accreditation is notable in itself because it is a voluntary effort. This is the fourth time the city police department has been accredited. It first was accredited in 1998 and then reaccredited in 2003 and 2007.

Posted on behalf of VALEAC Chairman Dave Daigneault:

The next VALEAC Quarterly Meeting will be hosted by the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office, May 5, 2011.

The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office is located at 1225 Courthouse Road, Stafford, VA 22555.

The business meeting will begin at 10:00 a.m. Training will follow the business meeting. The training topic will be, “How to sell Accreditation to Others”. This training will focus on a combination of conflict resolution and leadership that is tailored for the accreditation manager. We will have a guest instructor who will provide the training. Afternoon training will be presented by Captain Tim O’Leary (Stafford County Sheriff’s Office) on the new Suggested Proofs of Compliance (SPOC) document. Lunch will be provided at no cost to attendees. Feel free to arrive around 9:00 for networking and fellowship!

Please be sure to register via the DCJS registration link if you are planning to attend, so we can plan for lunch and training accordingly.

Registration link: http://www.dcjs.virginia.gov/trainingevents/

As a reminder, Membership Dues were due March 15th. If your agency has not paid their Membership Dues, you may do so by completing a Membership Dues Invoice (located on this website) and bring it, along with a check, to the meeting. Treasurer Bobby Mawyer will be accepting membership Dues payments.

A list of hotels can be found here

We look forward to seeing you May 5th!

• Division of Capitol Police
• Dept. of Conservation & Recreation (Virginia State Parks)
• Colonial Beach Police Department

• Hanover County Sheriff's Office (4th award)
• City of Richmond Police Department (3rd award)
• City of Radford Police Department (3rd award)

• Northern Virginia Community College Police Department

• Longwood University Police Department

• Town of Tappahannock Police Department

• Winchester PD - Initial Accreditation
• Richmond City SO - Initial Accreditation
• Bedford Co. SO - Reaccreditation - 2nd award
• Virginia Beach SO - Reaccreditation - 2nd award
• Prince William Co. SO - Reaccreditation - 4th award

• Welcomed Chief Day (Bedford PD) as the newest member of the Commission;
  
• Gary Dillon provided the Commission with the quarterly Program Manager's Report;
• Capt. Bobby Mawyer (DGIF) provided the Commission with an update of state agencies' progress toward accreditation;
• Sheriff Lane Perry (Henry Co.) addressed the Commission proposing that accredited agency CEO's attend ethics training during their 4-year accreditation cycle. The Board will consider adding language to the commentary to ADM.01.02 encouraging CEO's to seek such training;
• Approved revised VLEPSC Process & Procedures;
• Approved revised VLEPSC Bylaws;
• Approved VLEPSC Directive 2009-05 - Revision of Standard ADM.02.04;
• Approved VLEPSC Directive 2009-06 - Revision of Standard OPR.10.01 & OPR.10.02;
• Board member Sheriff F.W. Howard, Jr (New Kent Co.) steps down as Vice Chair;
• Board nominates and appoints Sheriff Fred Newman (Washington Co.) as Howard's replacement; and
• Set the next meeting for March 11, 2010 at the Virginia State Capitol, hosted by the Capitol Police.
  

• City of Chesapeake Sheriff's Office

• Rockingham Co. Sheriff's Office (2nd award)
  
• Fairfax County Police Department (4th award)
  
• Galax Police Department (3rd award)
  

• Colonial Heights PD