05/082019 - Accreditation_final aTigard Police Department
Media Release
• ' 13125 SW Hall Boulevard I Tigard,Oregon 97223 www.tigard-or.gov/police
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 8, 2019
Contact:
Stefanie Kouremetis, Community Engagement Program Coordinator
Tigard Police Department
Phone: 503-718-2814
Email: stefanie.kouremetis@tigard-or.gov
Tigard Police Department Receives State-Wide Law Enforcement Accreditation
Effective April 30, 2019, the Tigard Police Department (TPD) has been certified as a state-
accredited law enforcement agency by the Oregon Accreditation Alliance (OAA). Currently, 49 of
211 Oregon law enforcement agencies share this status. To ensure continued compliance, this
certification requires TPD to undergo an OAA audit every three years.
"To be certified by the Oregon Accreditation Alliance is to receive a seal of approval that the Tigard
Police Department's policies,procedures, and practices are aligned with an identified international
set of best practices in critical areas of high risk and liability, accountability, and transparency," says
Tigard Chief Kathy McAlpine. "It also ensures the police department is operating efficiently and
meeting the community's needs."
TPD started the accreditation process in September 2018. Staff members compared department
policies and procedures against 103 OAA standards,which are considered best practices for the
industry. Standards range from policies related to personnel files,public records, search and seizure
to use of force. Staff compiled supporting documentation including police reports,photos, training
logs and other "proof" to demonstrate to OAA that the department was complying with each
standard.
The accreditation process resulted in policy updates and overall improvements to the department.
For example,it prompted the Department to revise its Prisoner Transport policy. TPD has never
had a prisoner escape occur during transport and our policies were silent on the issue. Best practices
recommend planning for this possibility.
OAA reviewed supporting documentation and conducted on-site interviews with staff before
awarding certification. Ed Boyd, Executive Director of OAA,presented TPD's certification to
Tigard City Council on May 7, 2019.
The purpose of attaining accreditation is to ensure that TPD's procedures and practices are aligned
with industry best practices. By doing so, the Department can provide better service to the
community,improve practices that impact safety, and enhance the overall professionalism of the
Tigard Police Department.
To learn more about accreditation, please visit www.oracall.org.
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