The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) on Nov. 18 formally awarded the Edmonds Police Department state accreditation at the annual Fall WASPC Conference in Blaine, Washington. State accreditation is a way of certifying that the Edmonds Police Department is operating at the highest standards of professionalism.

The accreditation came after a lengthy and rigorous review process. A team of assessors from WASPC visited the Edmonds Police Department on July 23, 2009, for a formal on-site assessment and evaluation. Assessors spent the day reviewing department policies and operations, interviewing personnel and inspecting equipment and facilities, all in an effort to determine if the department was in compliance with 140 professional standards developed by the Chiefs and Sheriff’s Association.

The Edmonds Police Department now joins a small number of law enforcement agencies statewide — 28 in all — that have been awarded accreditation out of more than 260 law enforcement organizations in Washington state.

According to an Edmonds Police Department news release, WASPC accreditation is not required, “but the department pursued it as a way of instilling best practice standards into its everyday operations. Accreditation also sends a message to the community that the Edmonds Police Department is committed to providing services at the highest level,” the release said.