By Matthew Hersh
The New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police (NJSACOP) is slated to visit the Princeton Police Department (PPD) on April 20 to conduct an on-site, department-wide assessment as part of the department’s regular accreditation with the association. NJSACOP will examine all aspects of the Princeton Police Department’s Public Safety Emergency Communications Center’s policies and procedures, management, operations, and support services, PPD Chief Matthew Solovay announced last week.
Additionally, PPD initiated the accreditation process for Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) accreditation in 2025. As part of that effort, NJSACOP assessors will visit the department on April 22 to conduct a comprehensive on-site evaluation of PPD’s Public Safety Emergency Communications Center. This assessment will include a review of policies and procedures, management practices, operations, and support services.
The department was first awarded accredited status through the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police in 2014 and has successfully maintained that status through re-accreditation assessments in 2017, 2020, and 2023.
According to NJSACOP, accreditation relies on a police department’s adoption of standards containing a clear statement of professional objectives. When the procedures are in place, a team of trained, independent assessors verifies that the applicable standards have been successfully implemented. Accreditation is valid for a three-year period with PPD required to submit annual reports on compliance.
The NJSACOP is the designated accreditation agency in the state of New Jersey.
“The re-verification process confirms that the Princeton Police Department continues to meet the Commission’s established “best practice” standards, a voluntary accreditation program widely regarded as a hallmark of professional law enforcement excellence,” Solovay said.
As part of this final on-site assessment, employees and members of the general public are invited to provide comments to the assessment team. On Monday, April 20, between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m., residents and other members of the public can call (609) 751-2359 to provide feedback. Telephone comments are limited to five minutes and must address the agency’s ability to comply with the NJSACOP standards. Contact Sgt. Michael Strobel at (609) 921-2100 ext. 1815 or email mstrobel@princetonnj.gov for more information.
Those who want to submit comments about the Princeton Police Department’s ability to comply with the standards for accreditation should email Accreditation Program Director at hdelgado@njsacop.org, or write to the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission at 751 Route 73 North, Suite 12 Marlton, NJ 08053.
Following this assessment, NJSACOP assessors will visit PPD on April 22 to conduct an on-site evaluation of PPD’s Public Safety Emergency Communications Center. This assessment will include a compliance review of policies and procedures, management practices, operations, and support services.
Achieving Public Safety Answering Point accreditation for PPD’s Communications Center is a priority, Solovay said, reflecting a “commitment to professionalism, accountability, and best practices in public safety communications. Accreditation strengthens our operations, reduces risk and liability exposure, reinforces our legal defensibility, and builds public confidence in our ability to respond efficiently and effectively to the needs of our community.”
PPD employees and members of the general public are invited to provide comments to a NJSACOP assessor by calling (609) 751-2359 on Wednesday, April 22 between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. Email comments can be sent to mstrobel@princetonnj.gov.