Only 54 police departments in Illinois have received accreditation from the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, and now Elgin has been added to their ranks.
“We, the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, are very proud of the chief and the Elgin Police Department for this accomplishment and we believe you should be as well,” said Elgin resident Steve Casstevens, an association board member and retired Buffalo Grove police chief who presented the award at Wednesday’s Elgin City Council meeting.
The association created the Illinois Law Enforcement Accreditation Program 10 years ago as a way for police departments to demonstrate they have achieved the highest standards and best practices in law enforcement, Casstevens said.
“This is the accreditation authority for the state of Illinois,” he said. “(It’s) significant for your police department and your community.”
The program’s staff reviewed and assessed the Elgin department’s policies and standards in areas that included community policing, police pursuits, use of force and record keeping. It’s a process that takes more than a year to complete, he said.
Tier 1 accreditation, which is what Elgin attained, has been achieved by just 54 police departments, Casstevens said. That number represents just 5% of all police agencies in Illinois, he said.
“It’s important for us as a statewide association to publicly recognize departments that are striving to reach these high goals,” Casstevens said.
One assessor wrote in the final report that Elgin’s assessment was a highlight of his 37-year law enforcement career. In his opinion, there hasn’t been an agency that has stood out as highly as Elgin’s, he wrote.
Police Chief Ana Lalley lauded the department’s staff for the recognition.
“(The) members of the police department are beyond exceptional,” Lalley said Wednesday. “I’m very proud of what the members do each day. This award just shows how great they are. … (There’s a) commitment to always doing better, thinking better, being better, changing and innovating.”
Achieving accreditation status helps strengthen the department’s professional image and lets the community know the department is continuing to work on being better every day, the chief said.
She also cited the accreditation team, Deputy Chief Adam Schuessler, Katie Johnston, and Sgt. Mike Martino, for their work in achieving the ranking.
Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
