The Battle Ground Police Department has met the criteria for 100% compliance during a recent assessment of its policies, training and daily operations, marking another milestone in the department’s ongoing effort to meet professional law enforcement standards.
The department has participated in the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs’ (WASPC) accreditation program since 2010. The latest assessment included a review of department records and procedures, followed by an on-site visit to evaluate whether employees follow established policies in their daily work.
Police Chief Dennis Flynn and accreditation manager Gail Truax, also serving as the administrative assistant to the chief of police, discussed the assessment and its significance for the department and the community during an interview with The Reflector on Thursday, Oct. 1. The department’s accreditation is awaiting a final vote by the WASPC Board of Directors at the time of the interview, with a decision expected during the association’s fall conference Nov. 9-12.
Truax described accreditation as a way to verify that the department is operating according to established standards rather than relying on its own assessment of its performance.
“The important part to think of is the accreditation process is an independent validation not the police department grading itself,” Flynn added. “It's proving that our policies are being followed. It's not the police department saying, ‘look at all these things that we're doing.’”
The assessment examines whether policies are in place and whether employees follow them. The process is designed to provide outside oversight of an agency’s operations and help ensure its practices remain consistent with professional standards.
“I would say the accreditation is about accountability and public trust,” Flynn said.
Building public trust
Flynn and Truax said the process offers residents an additional measure of accountability by having an outside organization evaluate whether the agency follows its policies.
Flynn acknowledged that residents can have different experiences with law enforcement, including negative interactions. He said the department’s responsibility is to continue applying professional standards, remain open to new ideas and ensure supervisors enforce policies in the field.
“So even for those who might have had a negative experience, whether with us or a different police agency, this is our opportunity to go out and win them over through our actions, not just through our speaking,” Flynn said.
For Truax, who said she has worked for the department for 20 years, the independent review provides additional confidence that the agency is meeting its obligations.
“On a personal note for me, I've worked here 20 years, and just to have this extra oversight is so meaningful to me, just to have someone else come in and say, ‘you guys are doing it right,’” Truax said.
Accreditation is voluntary with roughly 25% of law enforcement agencies in the state of Washington accredited through WASPC.
Flynn said the department’s compliance finding should not be interpreted as a claim that its employees or operations are perfect. Instead, he said, it demonstrates a commitment to evaluating practices and identifying opportunities for improvement.
“I'm incredibly proud of the accreditation. But I'm even more proud of what it represents,” Flynn said. “Accreditation is accomplished on paper. But compliance happens every day. In the decisions our officers make and the way our employees serve the community.”
A regional-wide effort
The department’s accreditation work involves more than its administrative staff. Flynn and Truax credited employees throughout the agency, along with assistance from other accredited law enforcement agencies in the region.
The Camas Police Department helped provide guidance, while the Ridgefield and Washougal police departments also contributed to regional collaboration on policies and training.
Flynn said partnerships with other agencies help ensure departments are keeping their practices and training current.
Truax also credited Camas Police Capt. Shyla Nelson, who served as the department’s assigned mentor and conducted a review before the virtual assessment. She provided feedback the Battle Ground Police Department could address before the formal review.
“It's definitely not a solo project by any means,” Truax said. “As far as the patrol officers too, you have to make sure that they're ready, you know, that they know our policies, that they understand that WASPC's going to be coming through and taking a look at everything.”
An ongoing process
According to information provided by BGPD, the WASPC accreditation program was established after the Washington state Legislature directed the association in 1976 to develop standards and goals for law enforcement agencies.
The current program was updated in 2007 and is continually revised as needed. Its standards address practices agencies are expected to follow under law or established professional norms.
The program includes nearly 150 standards organized into 18 chapters, according to WASPC. Ten standards also require annual checks, meaning accreditation involves continued monitoring rather than a review that happens only once every four years.
During the assessment process, a team of four or five assessors conducts a virtual review that takes approximately a week. The review includes examining documentation across the program’s chapters before an on-site assessment is scheduled.
The on-site visit gives assessors an opportunity to meet with employees from different parts of the department, including administration, patrol, records and evidence.
Assessors also can select employees and ask questions to determine whether their understanding and actions align with department policies and professional standards.
“We could have the best policies in the world, but if they're not being adhered to, it doesn't really amount to anything,” Flynn said.
The review also examines training requirements, including whether officers have completed mandatory instruction and other training required by department policy.
For Truax, maintaining compliance requires year-round work. Department staff track training records, monitor annual requirements and ensure employees complete any outstanding instruction.
“It's constant monitoring of it but every four years they have a whole team of four or five assessors that come in and do a virtual assessment for us which takes about a week,” Truax said.
The standards can change between assessments, requiring the department to keep its policies and practices current. Truax said the process requires substantial time and coordination among BGPD employees.
