The Richardson Police Department has renewed its accreditation under the Texas Police Chiefs Association's best practices program, the city said Friday.
Chief Gary Tittle accepted the certificate at the City Council's Oct. 5 meeting. Scott Rubin, an assistant director with the association, presented it and recognized the department for keeping its accredited status and continuing to improve its practices and procedures, according to the city.
What the program checks
The Texas Law Enforcement Accreditation Program is voluntary. Agencies that take part have to show they comply with more than 185 best practice standards written by Texas law enforcement professionals, according to the association. Each standard lists the proof an agency must produce to show it complies.
Examples posted by the association include written policies on vehicle pursuits and on harassment, along with records showing staff were trained on them.
Accreditation lasts four years, with yearly reports required in between, and an agency must finish the reaccreditation process before its four-year period runs out. The association says more than 230 Texas agencies have been accredited since the program began in 2006. Participating departments pay a $500 application fee plus an annual fee based on their size.