Police force earns accreditation.

Byline: Karen McCowan The Register-Guard

JUNCTION CITY - The city's police department has joined the relatively elite ranks of Oregon law enforcement agencies sanctioned by the Oregon Accreditation Alliance.

Alliance director Joe Simon said the seven-officer Junction City force was accredited this month after an on-site assessment in July of how the department measures up to 100 professional standards set by the statewide organization. The standards address everything from use of force to property and evidence procedures, he said.

The on-site visit followed three years of internal work by the city's chief and officers to review and revamp their department's policies and procedures.

The Junction City Police Department is one of just 18 statewide to become accredited, said Simon, who retired as Albany police chief after 30 years in law enforcement to head the alliance.

"It's quite an achievement, especially for an agency the size of Junction City," he said.

An additional 20 Oregon police agencies - including Eugene and Florence - have contracted with the alliance to become accredited, Simon said.

The alliance was created in 2001 by the Oregon Association Chiefs of Police, the Oregon State Sheriffs' Association and the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials.

"The idea is to help agencies achieve and maintain high quality, through periodic evaluation by an outside, independent source," Simon said.

Accreditation is good news for the community, he said.

"No. 1, it means that their police personnel have a great amount of skill and knowledge," he said. "It also means that the agency is better able to control crime through more efficient and professional services."

Among the alliance's goals is "creating a forum in which police and citizens work together to prevent and control crime through greater understanding of the challenges and impacts on law enforcement and the desires of the community."

Accreditation is also good news for cities as organizations, he said.

"Over time, it reduces liability," he said. "We require annual self-reporting, and members have to be reaccredited every three years. It really forces agency personnel to critically evaluate their performance on a regular basis."

Junction City Police Chief Ken Hancock said he sought accreditation for just such reasons, and praised members of his department for what he called a team effort.

"I believe an outside inspection by objective professionals ensures the public and elected officials that our department is on task, running lean and in compliance," he said.