Sheriff’s Department earns accreditation of civil office

CHENANGO COUNTY – A representative from the New York State Sheriffs’ Association attended the July meeting of the Chenango County Board of Supervisors to present Sheriff Thomas J. Loughren with the department’s fourth accreditation.

The Chenango County Sheriff’s Department’s Civil Office received accreditation from the state Monday, adding to the three other areas where the department has already received accreditation. The Sheriff’s Department was accredited in Law Enforcement in 1999 and re-accredited in 2004. Loughren explained that the initial accreditation in Law Enforcement immediately reduced the department’s insurance premium by $25,000. In 2007, the department was accredited in corrections and for its 9-1-1 Dispatch.

Executive Director of NYSSA Peter Kehoe explained the accreditation program provides objective standards for measuring the performance of a department and recognizes those who are doing a good job. Kehoe explained accreditation programs helps sheriff’s departments by promoting efficiency, raising the quality of service, improving morale and reducing insurance costs. “The bottom line is, it improves services to the public,” Kehoe said.

In order to qualify for the accreditation, the Sheriff’s Department’s Civil Office had to submit to scrutiny by an outside assessor. The department was judged on 121 different accreditation standards. According to the NYSSA web site, “The standards contain detailed requirements regarding the handling and accounting of money collected for judgments and money collected by Sheriffs on behalf of the county.” After review by the independent assessor, the department was found to exceed every one of the 121 standards.