The PLEAC Accreditation Program for South Whitehall Township Police is under the direction of Captain Stephen G. Brown, who is assigned as the Accreditation Manager.

On Tuesday July 25, 2023, the members of Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission (PLEAC) voted for the South Whitehall Township Police Department to receive re-accreditation. This was the final phase of the assessment which began on May 29th with a two-week review of the department's procedures, policies, operations, and management by an assessment team through proofs of compliance.  An on-site evaluation was then conducted by the assessors on June 14th.  This was our department's second 3-year re-accreditation from PLEAC having originally achieved accreditation status on June 23, 2017.  We have successfully retained this standing since that time.

Through this valuable program, our agency is required to demonstrate compliance with nationally recognized police policy, practices, and standards.  It ensures that we are policing our community in the best possible manner and that we are following current and accepted police practices.

Accreditation Process

Accreditation is a progressive and time-proven way of helping institutions evaluate and improve their overall performance. The cornerstone of this strategy lies in the promulgation of standards containing a clear statement of professional objectives. Participating administrators then conduct a thorough analysis to determine how existing operations can be adapted to meet these objectives. When the procedures are in place, a team of independent professionals is assigned to verify that all applicable standards have been successfully implemented. The process culminates with a decision by an authoritative body that the institution is worthy of accreditation.

We are extremely pleased to have achieved this designation. Accreditation is a rigorous process, but one that we welcome as a continual quality improvement mechanism. Earning PLEAC’s accreditation is another measure of our excellence as a foremost law enforcement agency in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Currently only about 15% of law enforcement organizations in Pennsylvania have achieved or maintain this distinction.