Three DE Police Agencies Earn State Accreditation
SUSSEX COUNTY, Del. – The Dagsboro, Ellendale, and Selbyville Police Departments have each earned state accreditation from the Delaware Police Accreditation Commission (DPAC).
The departments were were awarded certificates for their accreditations at a ceremony on Tuesday, Jan. 13.
In a message posted to the agency’s social media, the Dagsboro Police Department celebrated, writing, “This achievement represents over a year of hard work and dedication by our officers and staff to meet and maintain the highest professional standards in Delaware Law Enforcement. We are proud to serve the Town of Dagsboro and remain committed to professionalism, accountability, and excellence in service.”
DPAC, formed in 2008, is a group committed to advancing law enforcement professionalism through the establishment of professional standards that enable Delaware Police agencies to be systematically measured, evaluated, and updated. As part of the rigorous process, a team of DPAC assessors ensured all accreditation standards were met by the departments by completing a comprehensive on-site inspection, reviewing agency policies and procedures, and conducting interviews with department members.
“State accreditation requires a commitment to excellence and determination. Each agency embraced the challenge and completed the process to meet more than 100 professional standards. I commend them for a job well done,” said Joshua Bushweller, Delaware Department of Safety and Homeland Security (DSHS) Secretary and DPAC Chair.
House Bill 206, which was signed into law in Aug. 2023, mandates that all police agencies be accredited by 2028, and each is currently proactively working towards state accreditation through the Police Officer Standards and Training Commission/DPAC section of the DSHS. Currently, 64 percent of all Delaware police agencies are now accredited, including 12 nationally and 20 Delaware accredited.
