The Cornelia Police Department is being recognized for its commitment to maintaining professional policing standards. Recently, the department received a Meritorious Silver Award from the Georgia Law Enforcement Certification Program recognizing its first decade as a certified police force.
The new award program honors those agencies that have maintained their certification through the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police for 10 and 20 years.
“We are proud of the fact that this year we received our Meritorious Silver Award for maintaining and meeting, and exceeding, the standards for ten consecutive years,” says Cornelia Police Chief Jonathan Roberts. “Currently, we are in our 15th consecutive year and look forward to obtaining our 20-year award in a few more years.”
In July 2007, Cornelia PD became the first law enforcement agency in Habersham County to become certified through the police chiefs association. It remains the only certified police department in Habersham and one of only 137 law enforcement agencies statewide, out of more than 1,100, to have earned this distinction.
Certification signifies a law enforcement agency adheres to GACP’s professional standards, considered best practices for policing. Every three years, a team of assessors inspects records and facilities to determine if individual agencies are meeting those standards. The assessors critically examine the agency by inspecting files and records, police vehicle fleets, communications centers, and evidence and property control functions to ensure that policies and procedures meet or exceed acceptable law enforcement practices.
Of the 137 currently certified agencies, only 13 have earned a Meritorious Silver Award.
