WAYNESBORO—The Borough of Waynesboro Police Department has been awarded $45,264 in federal funding from the Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services via the Community Policing Development Program.
The grant award will fund the WPD’s pursuit to obtain and maintain accreditation through the Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission.
The WPD competed nationally for funding through the COPS CPD Program, with $33 million awarded nationwide in 2021 to advance the practice of community policing in law enforcement.
The WPD is one of just six entities in Pennsylvania to receive funding.
“WPD is committed to the protection of life and property; preservation of safety and good order; fair and impartial enforcement of the law; and the defense of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Constitution of the United States of America,” said Police Chief Jim Sourbier. “It is our mandate to develop and maintain standards of performance that ensure our objectives are achieved in an effective, efficient, consistent and fair manner. PLEAC accreditation will provide third party oversight of agency policies and practices to assure that WPD adheres to established best practices in the discharge of our responsibilities to the community.”
Planned necessary funding allocations to meet accreditation standards include training for several of the WPD’s in-house instructors, meant to support new, creative approaches to preventing crime and promoting safe communities.
“We’re grateful that the Department of Justice approved the police department’s request, and that the department can move forward to ensure it remains current with the latest standards of policing, and to provide efficient, effective and fair service to its community,” said Council President Harold Mumma.
