The Kenton County Police Department was awarded reaccreditation Tuesday from the Kentucky Association of Chiefs of Police for demonstrating that they meet standards for efficient and effective operations.
Accreditation helps police departments operate more professionally, justify their operations, and promote trust in their community.
“Being accredited indicates that we were carefully measured against an established set of standards and that we’ve met or exceeded accepted practices in law enforcement,” Kenton County Chief of Police Spike Jones said. “We are proud that we have achieved reaccreditation and continue in our tradition of excellence.”
Over 177 standards in over 30 chapters include criteria such as the use of force, unauthorized response to resistance, duty to intervene, fiscal management, compensation and benefits, disciplinary procedures, training, biased policing, response to mental illness, and early intervention systems for officers.
The benefits of accreditation include insurance saving costs, ensuring the Kenton County Police Department is up to date on the latest practices, and that evidence-based law enforcement practices are being followed.
“The accreditation process entails our team performing a deep evaluation of all aspects of our operations and what improvements and changes need to be made,” Jones said. “We have made conscious decisions about policies and procedures that fit the law enforcement requirements for Kenton County, Northern Kentucky, and the Commonwealth of Kentucky.”
The accreditation is valid for four years, at which point the Kenton County Police Department will have to reapply.