Today the NLCRPD filed a certification notification letter with the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association for the credentialing of the NLCRPD for compliance with the requirements of an executive order for police agencies and best practices concerning policing policy and training. This mandated process was able to be immediately assessed processed for NLCRPD agency compliance, since most of the mandated areas of review already aligned with the Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Accreditation process.

As an accredited agency certified by the Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission NLCRPD was able to provide immediate policy and training proofs for those areas of certification for credentialing pursuant to the executive order. This also further illustrates the value of the NLCRPD participation in and completion of the PLEAC accreditation process.

On October 28, 202 the Department of Justice Announces Standards for Certifying Safe Policing Practices by Law Enforcement Agencies. Executive Order 13929 requires that all state, local, and university law enforcement agencies be certified by independent credentialing agencies. The President’s Order requires agencies to meet two standards in order to be successfully credentialed: 1) that the agency’s use of force policies prohibit chokeholds, except in situations where the use of deadly force is allowed by law; and 2) that the agency’s use of force policies adhere to all applicable federal, state, and local laws. The Department’s certification standards encourage an independent assessment of law enforcement policies and procedures, such as:

1) training protocols on use of force;
2) training protocols on de-escalation;
3) the scope of an officer’s duty and obligation to intervene in order to prevent excessive force by another officer;
4) when and how an officer should provide appropriate medical care;
5) officers identifying themselves as law enforcement and giving verbal warning of their intent to use deadly force;
6) shooting at or from a moving vehicle. Additionally, law enforcement agencies are encouraged to implement early intervention systems to promote officer wellness and to identify officers who may be at risk of violating use of force policies, policies and procedures to help them recruit and promote the best and brightest, and community engagement plans to address each community’s specific needs.

Since the Executive Order was announced in June, the major stakeholders in law enforcement have been kept apprised of the implementation process, have reviewed the Safe Principles document, and many have endorsed their adoption. These principles provide for more accountability, transparency, and community engagement and will foster community trust, all critical elements in keeping both the public and law enforcement officers safe.