Delaware County Sheriff's Office Earns Law Enforcement Accreditation
Released: August 26, 2024
Delaware County Sheriff's Office Earns Law Enforcement Accreditation
Delaware County Council commends the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, under the leadership of Sheriff Jerry L. Sanders, Jr., for earning a unanimous vote for accreditation by the Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission of the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association.
Accreditation is awarded to only a small percentage of law enforcement agencies in Pennsylvania, and County Council is proud that the Sheriff’s Office has earned such a distinguished honor, exhibiting strong leadership and professionalism. This is the third time that the County’s Sheriff’s office has earned this distinction since Sheriff Sanders first took office in early 2018.
“We are honored to receive this accreditation, which reinforces that Delaware County residents can have confidence in the quality and effectiveness of our officers' performance,” said Sheriff Sanders. “While this achievement is a testament to the collective efforts of our entire staff, I must specifically recognize Captain Robert Viglione, our Accreditation Manager, and Jennifer Ruggeri our Accreditation Specialist from Lexipol, for their dedication in ensuring that we consistently meet and exceed the standards required for this recognition.
To determine if a law enforcement agency will be awarded accreditation, the Commission conducts a thorough analysis to determine if the office’s current policies comply with the program’s 139 standards, and on-site reviews of agency files are conducted by trained assessors to ensure compliance with those standards. The Commission found the office to be meritorious and worthy of accreditation.
"Council is proud of Sheriff Sanders and his team for earning this well-deserved accreditation,” said Delaware County Vice Chair Richard Womack. “Achieving accreditation is no small feat—it requires a deep commitment to excellence, attention to detail, and a dedication to maintaining the highest standards of law enforcement, and we appreciate Sheriff Sanders’ leadership in ensuring that Delaware County continues to uphold these rigorous standards, providing our community with the highest level of service and protection."
Law enforcement accreditation is considered a progressive and time-proven method of helping law enforcement agencies evaluate and improve their overall performance by adopting high standards and professional objectives. Accreditation has many benefits, including:
- Improvements in law enforcement/community relations
- Increases employee input, interaction, and confidence in the agency
- Reduces agency risk and exposure to lawsuits
- Decreases liability insurance expenditures
- Extends agency accountability to the public and elected officials
- Encourages problem-solving activities within the agency
- Identifies and highlights the capabilities and competence of the agency
- Furnishes a solid foundation for the agency to build upon for further progress
“I congratulate Sheriff Sanders and his team for demonstrating an unwavering commitment to excellence in law enforcement by achieving this important accreditation,” said Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer. "Adherence to such high standards is the hallmark of effective policing, and this accomplishment underscores the dedication of the Sheriff’s Office to protecting and serving the residents of Delaware County.”
In all, over 375 agencies have enrolled since the program’s inception in 2001, and only 175 agencies currently maintain accredited status—including just six sheriff’s offices in the State and just 13 of 51 law enforcement agencies in Delaware County.
The Delaware County’s Sheriff’s Office’s accreditation was announced during the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association's annual banquet in July of 2024, and accreditation status will remain valid for a three-year period with annual reports required.
For more information, visit the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association website at www.pachiefs.org.
