Assessors provide the agency with verbal feedback on their progress during, and at the conclusion of the assessment. If the final report reflects compliance with all applicable standards and with required on-site activities, the agency is scheduled for a Commission review. The Commission review and decision phase involves the agency making plans to attend the scheduled hearing. At the hearing, the Commission reviews the final report and receives testimony from agency personnel, assessors, staff, or others. If satisfied that the agency has met all compliance requirements, the Commission awards the agency accredited status.
Accreditation is for a period of three years.
The agency submits annual reports to the Commission attesting to continued compliance and reporting changes or difficulties experienced during the year, including actions taken to resolve noncompliance. Some of the benefits of being accredited are controlled liability insurance costs, stronger defense against lawsuits, ensured systematic investigation into citizen complaints, greater accountability within the agency, support from government officials, increased community advocacy and improved employee morale. Being accredited requires the police department to regularly review its policies and procedures and to bring them in line with current professional and legal practice, in order to provide the business community and most important of all, the residents of Beloit with the best service possible. Certainly the community can be proud of the fact that it has an accredited police department. I would like to personally extend a public thank you to City Manager Jane Wood and the Beloit City Council for their support, to maintain our accreditation status.