DUBOIS – The Sandy Township Police Department received its accreditation from the Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission (PLEAC) before Monday night’s meeting of the Sandy Township Supervisors.
Randy Cox of the PLEAC said out of 1,200 statewide, Sandy Township is among only 80 police departments that earned this accreditation. He said, “So your department is among the 6 percent of the finest police departments in the state.”
He said police departments must meet 134 different requirements. He said that number grows to more than 300 with the inclusion of sub-requirements.
“They have achieved a very momentous step, not just in their history, but in Sandy Township,” said Cox.
The members of the accreditation team were presented with a proclamation certificate for the Sandy Township Police Department. Team members included Police Chief Donald Routch and Sergeant/Accreditation Manager Kristopher Kruzelak and Administrative Assistant Sharon Jerashen.
Kruzelak and Routch thanked the Sandy Township Supervisors and Township Manager Dick Castonguay.
Routch said it was difficult to earn the accreditation, but everyone contributed to the effort. He said, “It was a group effort. It wasn’t one or two people, but the whole department.”
The supervisors thanked the department for their hard work and applauded their efforts.
“I’d like to commend our police department for becoming certified. I know it has been a long, hard drive,” said Supervisor Jim Jeffers.
“They had to work very hard. They didn’t accomplish some of these things the first time through it,” said Castonguay.
The PLEAC accreditation must be renewed every three years.