Buffalo, NY – Erie County Sheriff John C. Garcia announced today that the New York State Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) Accreditation Council has voted to approve the Erie County Sheriff’s Police Services Division’s reaccreditation for 2023 through 2028.
DCJS’s Law Enforcement Agency Accreditation Program is voluntary and designed to improve an agency’s effectiveness, efficiency and professionalism, promote training, and foster public confidence in law enforcement. The accreditation process entails a three-member board performing a thorough on-site assessment of the agency’s policies and procedures as well as interviewing members of the agency. Then the board makes its recommendations to the Accreditation Council for final review and approval.
Sheriff Garcia stated, “This is a tremendous accomplishment and achievement for my office and everyone who serves within the Police Services Division. Chief Timothy Donovan and his Professional Standards and Training Division staff put in long days and many hours to ensure The Sheriff’s Office maintains its accreditation.”
The Professional Standards and Training Division reviewed all the agency’s policies and procedures for the accreditation process. That review resulted in the creation of three new policies and updates, five updates, and three others consolidated with other documents to reflect modern law enforcement methods. Also, sixteen General Orders were updated to meet modern standards.
“Accreditation is the gold standard for law enforcement agencies in New York,” added Sheriff Garcia. “This great accomplishment continues to fulfill my commitment to bring 21st-century law enforcement to the Sheriff’s Office. However, our work does not end here. Now we must ensure we continue to train and demand our deputies uphold these strict standards for years to come.”
The Erie County Sheriff’s Civil Enforcement Division, Jail Management Division, and Correctional Health Division are all accredited through the various organizations that maintain and audit the respective divisions.
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