PRESS RELEASE
DECEMBER 9, 2013
On October 17, 2013, the Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission held its fall conference at the Holiday Inn Select in Lynchburg. The commission awarded the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office its re-accreditation certificate. The Bedford County Sheriff’s Office received its initial accreditation in 1999. The process of accreditation takes place every four years.
On Monday afternoon September 30, 2013, a three person team of assessors arrived at the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office. The assessors are law enforcement accreditation managers representing the Martinsville Police Department, City of Danville Sheriff’s Office and the City of Norfolk Sheriff’s Office. The team first performed a walk-thru inspection of the Bedford County Courthouse. The team then inspected a static display of a deputy sheriff’s patrol vehicle, animal control vehicle, K-9 deputy’s patrol vehicle, A.T.V.s, lake patrol boat and other specialty equipment and weapons. Also on Monday evening, one member of the team conducted a ride-along with a deputy for several hours.
On Tuesday morning, the assessment team conducted a walk-thru inspection of the Sheriff’s Office including the administrative offices, recordkeeping practices, the communication center, evidence rooms, file security and over-all security of the complex. After completing the walk-thru inspection, the team began examining files containing the 187 standards as promulgated under the process for the Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission.
On Wednesday morning the team returned to the sheriff’s office and completed the file review process. At 1:30 p.m. the team conducted an exit interview. The team reported that they found the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office in 100% compliance.
Sheriff Brown acknowledges that without the dedicated and hard working men and women of the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office this major accomplishment would never happen. Especially Sgt. Wendy Whorley, who is the offices Accreditation Manager.
On Monday December 9, 2013, Bedford Police Chief Jim Day, a Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission Board Member, will present the Re-Accreditation Certificate to Bedford County Sheriff Mike Brown at 7:30 p.m. during the Bedford County Board of Supervisor’s Meeting
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