Amherst Police Department praised; receives reaccreditation

The Amherst Police Department has once again been accredited by the state Department of Criminal Justice Services.

An accreditation assessment team reviewed the department's policies and procedures and concluded, in a report issued April 19, that it complied with standards for reaccreditation.

The review is done every five years.

"I have been advised by the assessors that our department is in complete compliance with all the 130 necessary standards for reaccreditation," Chief John Moslow said. "The assessment team praised our department as a model for police departments across the state."

He added that a member of the team said the Amherst Police Department has set a standard by which other departments will be measured in the future.

"It is their intention to highly recommend to the State Accreditation Board that the Amherst Police Department be formally reaccredited in June of this year," he said.

Moslow credited the professionalism and hard work of the department's employees for achieving the recognition.

"I take great pride in what we have been able to achieve, and I consider it an honor to represent what I know is one of the finest police departments in the country," he said.

This is the third time Amherst has achieved reaccreditation. Moslow recognized the efforts of Officer Craig Johnson for his work in the process, including organizing hundreds of files needed by the team for its review.