Lower Providence Police Department Receives Sought-After Accreditation

There was a moment of civic pride at the Lower Providence Board of Supervisors meeting on Thursday, where it was announced that the Lower Providence Police Department had received a Certificate of Law Enforcement Accreditation from the Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission (PLEAC) on June 26. 

The purpose of the accreditation by PLEAC, an independent reviewing body, is to help maintain “the highest standards of professionalism,” according to the organization’s Website.  According to the Website, PLEAC assesses a police department’s procedures, policies and workers. 

According to Township Manager Richard Gestrich, the accreditation received by their police department is awarded to the best of Pennsylvania police departments.  This is the third accreditation the department has received, the first being in 2006 and the second being in 2009, said Lower Providence Police Chief Francis Carroll.  The accreditation bestowed on a department runs for three years.

According to inter-office communication written by Carroll, the receipt of the accreditation was the result of the recommendation of assessors who visited their department in April.  During the visit the assessors examined the Lower Providence Police Department members as they displayed their expertise an areas like “Special Weapons and Tactics,” and followed the members on patrol.

Wrote Carroll in his communication: “I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the support of the Board of Supervisors, Township Manager Richard Gestrich, and each and every member of the Police Department whose efforts on a day-to-day basis ensure that the residents, businesses, and visitors to Lower Providence township receive law enforcement services that meet the highest standards established by our profession.”