Fayetteville police awarded recertification from state

By JOHN MUNFORD
jmunford@TheCitizenNews.com

The Fayetteville Police Department was awarded its recertification last week by the state of Georgia at the annual conference of the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police.

To qualify for the honor, the department had to meet 115 standards that cover a wide range of the department's operations, including hiring and recruiting, evidence and property control, records management and budgeting.

"It covers everything we do," Trainor said.

Although most of the state's certification standards mirror those required for national accreditation which the department also holds, some of the standards were specifically designed with Georgia law enforcement agencies in mind, Trainor said.

One of those state-tailored standards requires the department to follow a protocol when investigating child abuse cases, Trainor said.

The certification can help the department when seeking grants, Trainor said. But it also helps prove to the public that the department is professionally operated, Trainor added.

"I think it's good for the officers to know they're recognized by the state for doing the right things in the right way," Trainor said.

The department first received its state certification in 1998. The achievement of recertification will be recognized at Thursday night's Fayetteville City Council meeting at 7:30 p.m.