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Prescott Police Department Receives State Accreditation from the Arizona Chiefs of Police and the Arizona Law Enforcement Accreditation Program

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The Arizona Association of Chiefs of Police (AACOP), has awarded the Prescott Police Department full Police Accreditation through the Arizona Law Enforcement Accreditation Program (ALEAP).

The Prescott Police Department was one of the first in Yavapai County and a leader in the state to apply for accreditation and complete all of the steps necessary to be commissioned as an accredited agency by the ALEAP Commission and the AACOP Board of Directors. These steps included; a two-year self-assessment (which the Prescott Police Department completed in 9 months), a mock assessment, an on-sight assessment, and a hearing before the ALEAP Commission. The Prescott Police Department met or exceeded all 174 standards approved by the AACOP Executive Board.

Prescott PD Accreditation Team and Assessors from ALEAP at our static display.

According to the Prescott Police Department, the benefits and value of accreditation include:

  • Ensuring that the PPD is meeting industry standards and best practices through validated standards measurements for top quality and safety results.
  • Improving officer safety and public safety.
  • Ensuring accountability, transparency and building trust with the Community.
  • Ensuring the PPD, through audits, evaluations, inspections and validation processes, that their operations, policies and procedures match practice.
  • Ensuring the operational readiness factor of the PPD to best serve and protect the Prescott community.
  • Reducing exposure, risk and liability, and also assisting with grants and funding.
  • Providing the community and every PPD team member with the knowledge and pride that the PPD has met the highest of professional policing standards.

“This is a significant achievement for the Department and we were pleased with the entire process, with the end result and evaluation,” Police Chief Bonney said. “We continue to look for ways to elevate the professionalism of the Department and this accreditation is certainly another great step in that direction. This process ended with the awarding of full accreditation status for the Police Department. The assessor’s evaluation was highly complementary of not only our policies and procedures, but as importantly the professionalism and culture in which we operate at the Police Department.”

Lt. Kasun, Lt. Small and Stacy Olson with ALEAP Assessors during on onsite inspection the week of June 14, 2021.

“We are proud of the Police Department for their recent accreditation award,” City Manager Michael Lamar said.  “This is certainly an impressive accomplishment.”

The comments from the commission and the ALEAP Director were positive and affirming:

“During the assessment team’s visit, it was clear that all of the employees, both sworn and non-sworn are committed to the ALEAP accreditation process. It was obvious that the members of PPD are driven to provide excellent, professional, and friendly service to the citizens and visitors of the City of Prescott.”

This is picture of a static display used during on our onsite inspection.  It highlights the many different types of technology and safety equipment we use at the Prescott Police Department.

“The assessment team left impressed with many facets of the agency…Department members were helpful and confirmed through interviews and observations that the department’s policies and procedures are integrated into the way the department operates, and have been embraced over many years as part of the department’s culture. Chief Bonney promotes the importance of accreditation to her staff and takes a hands-on approach.”

The Prescott Police Department would like to extend our gratitude and appreciation to every member of our team who assisted with this process, and a special thanks to our Accreditation Manger, Stacy Olson for her dedication and perseverance with helping us succeed in this process.

This is a picture of our accreditation team at the annual Arizona Chiefs of Police Association Law Enforcement Summit held in Flagstaff on July 14, 2021.  Pictured from left to right are:  Lt. Jason Small, Lt. Jon Brambila, Former Chief of Police Debra Black, Accreditation Manager Stacy Olson and Chief of Police Amy Bonney.  Not pictured is Lt. Corey Kasun.

The State of Arizona Law Enforcement Accreditation Program is a voluntary program that seeks to establish and maintain standards that represent current professional law enforcement best practices to increase effectiveness and efficiency in the delivery of law enforcement services, and to establish standards that address and reduce liability for the agency and its members. Accredited agencies meet the goals of accountability, fair and non-discriminatory personnel policies, quality service delivery, excellence, and community trust.