Accreditation - POST

 Old Saybrook Police Receive State Law Enforcement Accreditation Awards

State Statute, through the Police Accountability Legislation, requires all State of Connecticut Law Enforcement Agencies to attain Law Enforcement Accreditation by the end of 2026. The Accreditation process divides the minimum standards and practices into three state accreditation tiers, Tier I, Tier II, and Tier III.

Tier I consists of minimum standards and practices designed to protect the law enforcement agency from liability, enhance the delivery of services and improve public confidence in the law enforcement agency. Tier II consists of minimum standards and practices for the administration, management and operation of the law enforcement agency. Tier III consists of higher minimum standards and practices for the administration, management and operation of the law enforcement agency.

Tier I must be achieved by December 2023, Tier II by December 2025, and Tier III by December 2026.

Obtaining Tier I accreditation was one of Chief Spera’s Executive Goals for 2023. He advised the Police Commission at its September Meeting that the Department had passed its independent audit and site visit causing the State of Connecticut Police Officer Standards and Training Council (POST-C) to award the Town of Old Saybrook State of Connecticut - Tier I Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies. This award was presented one month ahead of the original time frame.

As a frame of reference there are 157 State of Connecticut Law Enforcement Units that must comply with the Police Accounability Act's requirement to become Tier I accredited by December 31, 2023.

As of the date Old Saybrook was awarded Tier I Accreditation Status, 99 agencies have been independently reviewed. Of the 99 reviewed, 34 have attained Tier 1 Accreditation Status. There are 25 reviews remaining in 2023. There are only 77 agencies (of the 157) that have achieved either POST or CALEA Accreditation.

“I commend the staff that spent much time working with me on this very important project.” Said Chief Spera “They are Captain DePerry (Ret.), Patrolman Milardo, and Dispatcher Gosselin. Tier I is just the beginning!”

In typical fashion, the team continued working despite the next deadline being in 2025. In late October, The Chief requested another independent audit be conducted. The results of the audit revealed that the Department had met all requirements to attain Tier II

Accreditation. On November 9, 2023, POST-C, awarded the Department State of Connecticut - Tier 2 Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.

The award letter from the Chairman of the POST-C reads in part:

“The State Tier II Accreditation Award represents your agency’s thorough self-evaluation which concluded with an independent audit of State Assessors and appointed members of council assigned to the Police Officer Standards and Training Accreditation Subcommittee.

This award also represents your agency’s ongoing acceptance of the obligation to continue the quest for professional excellence……We commend you and all the members of the Old Saybrook Police Department for demonstrating commitment to liability and professional standards in policy and practice.”

The Tier II Accreditation Team consisted of Chief Spera, Patrolman Milardo, and Dispatcher Gosselin.

As of this writing, 6 of Connecticut’s 157 Law Enforcement Agencies have obtained Tier II Accreditation Status. (26 agencies have CALEA Accreditation. 

I hope that our community and Town Leaders join OSPD in celebrating these very important milestones, said Michael A. Spera, Chief of Police. “Those who sought a transparent and independent review of police operations, including compliance with accreditation standards both in policy and in practice, should be comforted by these significant achievements and designations.” said the Chief. “This was not an easy process, but a necessary one to both comply with the law and future mandates, but also to demonstrate to those we proudly serve that we are providing traditional law enforcement services in accordance with State standards.”

The Department is already working towards achieving Tier III Accreditation. “My goal is to Achieve Tier III Accreditation in early 2024, beating the statutory mandate by more than two years.” Said Chief Spera, who is currently in his fifteenth year serving as our Police Chief. “We will continue to proactively serve the citizens and visitors of our special community in accordance with standards and practices that exemplify excellence in law enforcement services.” said the Chief.