Following a lengthy review process, the Hermosa Beach Police Department has received an elite accreditation for meeting high standards in all its functions, from policies and procedures to management, operations and support.
The Hermosa department joins only 15 other law enforcement agencies in California to hold the honor from the nationally recognized Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement, Inc.
The three-year accreditation is the result of an extensive audit of conduct and standards by outside experts, an in-depth agency-wide self-evaluation, and the adoption of new directives and standards by the department.
“The fine men and women of our city’s police force deserve this recognition for the highly professional manner with which they conduct themselves every day while they protect our community,” said Police Chief Greg Savelli. “We are pleased to be honored by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.”
This is the first time in the department’s history that it has been awarded accreditation by the commission. The Hermosa Beach Police Department is at least 73 years old, based upon the earliest documents listing a Hermosa police chief.
The accreditation was formally awarded at a banquet Saturday in Garden Grove attended by Savelli, Police Capt. Lance Jaakola, Mayor Pete Tucker, City Manager Steve Burrell and commission accreditation manager Georgia Lonnquist.
“This is an important recognition and it’s great for the city,” Tucker said. “It shows how the whole department has improved under the leadership of the chief.”
Tucker said Savelli has improved uniform procedures and has created “a better relationship with the community” than the department previously enjoyed.
A report by the commission recognized the department’s high level or professionalism, and required development of comprehensive written directives and goals, implementation of an exhaustive preparedness program, and adoption of rigorous internal review mechanisms. Department officials must submit annual reports verifying continued compliance with the new practices.
The commission is made up of leading public safety officials throughout the U.S., including the International Association of Chiefs of Police, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, National Sheriffs Association and Police Executive Research Forum.
“Your agency’s law enforcement accreditation represents the satisfactory completion of a continuous process of thorough agency-wide self-evaluation, concluded by an exacting outside review by a team of independent assessors,” wrote commission chair Louis M. Dekmar and executive director Sylvester Daughtry, Jr. in a joint letter.
“On behalf of the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., we commend you and the Hermosa Beach Police Department for demonstrating commitment to professional standards in policy and practice,” they wrote.
Previously, commission officials came to Hermosa to comb through Police Department files, ride along with officers on patrol, and strike up conversations with residents and businesspeople, to gauge compliance with 464 accreditation standards.
The officials also solicited phone calls and emails from community members, and held a September hearing at City Hall in which nine residents, including a City Council member and a former council member, praised the Police Department and Savelli.
Marianne Wibberley, whose website thisishermosa.com focuses on community issues including crime, said she has notebooks full of information that she hasn’t looked at “in years” because she is so confident in the Police Department’s operations since Savelli took the helm in 2006.
Kelly Kovac-Reedy, cofounder of the thriving Hermosa Beach Neighborhood Watch, said the efforts of Savelli and other department members were critical in the grassroots organization’s growth.
Tracy Hopkins, Neighborhood Watch’s other cofounder and an emergency preparedness commissioner for the city, added that Neighborhood Watch members “really find that their concerns are being taken care of” by the Police Department.
“I believe this department goes above and beyond the expectations of our residents,” she said.
“I am proud of every one of the officers,” said former Councilman J.R. Reviczky, who was known for his close scrutiny of the Police Department throughout his 16-year tenure.
“Greg [Savelli] is a great leader,” he said. “The department, the officers, the community, everybody working together, make Hermosa Beach a great city.” ER
