At its meeting on February 17, 2011, the Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission (VLEPSC) awarded the James City County Police Department (JCCPD) re-accredited status for its success in complying with more than 180 mandated standards. JCCPD was the first police department in Virginia to achieve a perfect assessment. The Police Department remains on a list of fewer than 100 law enforcement agencies in Virginia that have achieved VLEPSC accredited status.
The Department's Re-Accreditation achievement was spearheaded by Accreditation Manager David Daigneault (Former Chief of Police). Assistance was provided by a number of JCCPD staff members to include Deputy Chief Stan Stout, Major Steve Rubino, Major Brad Rinehimer, Lt. Jeff Hicklin, Lt. Eric Peterson, Sgt. John LeClaire and Records Supervisor Kay Riggs.
The award culminates the efforts that began 4 years prior in 2007 when the Department received its initial re-accreditation award. Initial accreditation was achieved in 2003. The accreditation process requires police agencies to prove compliance in a multitude of areas that touch on all aspects of police work, including everything from personnel, training, equipment, criminal and traffic arrests, to record-keeping and budgeting. The re-accredited status came after a 3-day on-site assessment in which 3 assessors, selected by the Commission, reviewed the Department and its files. The assessors were Investigator Gary Brumfield (Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation), Major Rebecca Edwards (Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office), and Jimmie Minton (Smithfield Police Department).
The re-accreditation certificate was presented to Chief Emmett Harmon at the March 22, 2011, Board of Supervisors meeting by New Kent County Sheriff F.W. Howard (VLEPSC Board Chairman) and Gary Dillon (VLEPSC Program Manager for Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services. Mr. Dillon explained that the State Accreditation program and requirements had been met by the James City County Police Department (JCCPD) which will help ensure efficient and effective law enforcement in the County. He lauded JCCPD for being the first police department in Virginia with achieving a perfect assessment and congratulated Chief Harmon and retired Chief Daigneault for their efforts.