Virginia ABC Bureau of Law Enforcement Receives Third Accreditation

Virginia ABC's Bureau of Law Enforcement has earned its third consecutive accreditation from the Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission (VLEPSC).

The commission – a panel of police chiefs and sheriffs from across the state – voted unanimously to renew the authority’s accreditation award on Thursday, March 7 at the quarterly VLEPSC meeting held in Chincoteague, VA.?

The accreditation program, administered through the state’s Department of Criminal Justice Services, requires a thorough inspection and review of agency policies, procedures, processes and operations as defined by 191 stringent standards every four years. Four performance areas including administration, operations, personnel and training are carefully evaluated against established criteria by an independent panel of certified assessors.

To receive the designation first awarded to Virginia ABC in 2015, enforcement agencies must demonstrate sustained practice and performance over each consecutive four-year period.

Tom Kirby, Virginia ABC Bureau of Law Enforcement chief and interim CEO, said the reaccreditation affirms the authority’s focus on prioritizing public safety and fairness through accountability, service, integrity and performance excellence for a stronger and safer commonwealth.

“The reaccreditation process has increased the effectiveness of our policy development, the efficiency of our delivery of services and ensures that we continue to provide top-tier training. Virginia ABC and its Bureau of Law Enforcement are committed to maintaining this high level of professionalism and responsibility,” said Kirby.

An assessment team comprised of independent law enforcement professionals from across Virginia reviewed records detailing the Bureau of Law Enforcement’s continued adherence to the commission’s stringent standards during the previous four-year accreditation cycle. Included in documents submitted for the assessment were incident reports and photos, quarterly audits of evidence and cash handled at each of the authority’s regional enforcement offices and other reports to ensure policy and practice compliance in all areas.

Also during the awards event, Virginia ABC accreditation manager David Huff was awarded his VLEPSC assessor certification, enabling him to help evaluate other law enforcement agencies as part of the accreditation program.

“Reaffirming this designation underscores Virginia ABC’s continuing commitment to securing a professional law enforcement organization that holds its agents, management and staff to a higher standard,” said Kirby.