Shortly after the death of Mr. George Floyd in Minneapolis, the Westtown-East Goshen Regional Police Department published a post on its Facebook page expressing our condemnation of the egregious police behavior that led to Mr. Floyd’s death. In addition, the department’s post attempted to provide reassurances that the agency engaged in practices contrary to the behaviors demonstrated in the video.
But we recognize that words without actions to support them are hollow. As a result, I would like to use this newsletter article to convey some of the actions that the Westtown-East Goshen Regional Police Department have taken to ensure that our agency provides professional police services in a fair and unbiased manner that demonstrates accountability and transparency. Additionally, I would like to lay out the actions that the department have taken to ensure that the voices of all of our community members have been heard and will continue to be heard as we move forward to strengthen our relationships with those that we serve.
In 2016, the Westtown-East Goshen Regional Police Department achieved accreditation through the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association. This achievement was notable because only approximately 9% of all law enforcement agencies in Pennsylvania have met the requirements necessary to achieve accreditation. To achieve this honor, the agency must create policies for approximately 132 different standards that meet the “best practices” standards. But the mere creation of policies is insufficient to achieve accreditation – the agency must then demonstrate that its officers strictly comply with the policies on an on-going basis. Compliance is demonstrated through the submission of proof to the Accreditation Commission and via a formal assessment by the Commission every three years which is accompanied by a physical inspection of the agency’s records and facility. Policies required to achieve accreditation include Bias-Based Policing, Use of Force, Arrest Procedures, Internal Affairs Investigations, Prisoner Transportation, Pursuit, Traffic Stops, etc. Additionally, any police department that utilizes body worn cameras are required to meet standards that demonstrate that the agency’s policies are in compliance with Act 22, the legislation passed in 2017 regarding this technology. In summary, accreditation ensures that a police department is operating in compliance with the highest professional standards through the enactment of policy, continuous training, and the enactment of measures designed to monitor and enforce accountability. Our agency is proud to have achieved and maintained this honor.
Since its inception as a regional police department in 1981, the Westtown-East Goshen Regional Police Department has embraced community-based policing as its foundation. The Mission Statement of our agency clearly demonstrates our commitment to this principal: “The mission of the Westtown-East Goshen Regional Police Department is to work in partnership with the communities that we serve to safeguard the lives and property of all citizens. We pledge to exemplify our commitment to our communities through the continuous demonstration of our core values of integrity, service, professionalism, compassion, trust, respect, honor, commitment, dedication, and pride.” But again, promises without performance have little value. The department has dedicated itself to keeping an open line of communication with our communities through avenues such as a Citizen Police Academy, programs such as Coffee with a Cop, and other various community outreach programs too numerous to mention in a newsletter article. These programs permit individuals to talk with agency representatives one-on-one about their concerns and to play a role in any action plan that is developed to address them. Additionally, our agency provides an avenue via the CrimeWatch platform for electronic communication with our agency that permits individuals to ask questions, submit officer complaints/compliments, obtain information about criminal activity in their neighborhood, request specific services (i.e., vacation property checks) when it best suits their schedule. Additional methods for communication with our department include a Facebook page, Township meetings, and a monthly Police Commission meeting.
As our nation begins to implement various changes to its criminal justice system to ensure that all people are treated fairly, we look forward to creating additional opportunities to interact with our residents to ensure that we are meeting your expectations of professionalism, fairness, and service. Furthermore, we pledge to rededicate ourselves to the principals established in the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics:
“AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, my fundamental duty is to serve the community; to safeguard lives and property; to protect the innocent against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation and the peaceful against violence or disorder; and to respect the constitutional rights of all to liberty, equality and justice.
I WILL keep my private life unsullied as an example to all and will behave in a manner that does not bring discredit to me or to my agency. I will maintain courageous calm in the face of danger, scorn or ridicule; develop self-restraint; and be constantly mindful of the welfare of others. Honest in thought and deed both in my personal and official life, I will be exemplary in obeying the law and the regulations of my department. Whatever I see or hear of a confidential nature or that is confided to me in my official capacity will be kept ever secret unless revelation is necessary in the performance of my duty.
I WILL never act officiously or permit personal feelings, prejudices, political beliefs, aspirations, animosities or friendships to influence my decisions. With no compromise for crime and with relentless prosecution of criminals, I will enforce the law courteously and appropriately without fear or favor, malice or ill will, never employing unnecessary force or violence and never accepting gratuities.
I RECOGNIZE the badge of my office as a symbol of public faith, and I accept it as a public trust to be held so long as I am true to the ethics of police service. I will never engage in acts of corruption or bribery, nor will I condone such acts by other police officers. I will cooperate with all legally authorized agencies and their representatives in the pursuit of justice. I know that I alone am responsible for my own standard of professional performance and will take every reasonable opportunity to enhance and improve my level of knowledge and competence. I will constantly strive to achieve these objectives and ideals, dedicating myself to my chosen profession…LAW ENFORCEMENT.”
Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting
