SNOHOMISH COUNTY—The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office is proud to announce that it is officially an accredited law enforcement agency through the Washington State Sheriffs and Police Chiefs Association (WASPC) with the coveted WASPC Accreditation Award.
Sheriff Susanna Johnson, Lieutenant Tom Morris and Deputy Jacob Holmes received the certification from the WASPC Executive Board on behalf of the Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday in Spokane, Wash. The purpose of law enforcement agency accreditation is to professionalize the law enforcement industry by providing a review process for agencies to be certified as operating under industry best practices and standards.
“It is an honor to receive this certification on behalf of the men and women of the Sheriff’s Office who have worked hard this past year to better serve our community in a manner that assures we follow best practices and professional standards,” said Sheriff Johnson. “In combination with our already accredited jail, we join a small group of Washington agencies that is accredited in both areas. Our office remains committed to increasing public trust and providing professional public safety services to all members of our community.”
The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office was accredited through Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC) in 2017. In March of 2020, WASPC notified the Sheriff’s Office that because all the standards in 2017, 2018 and 2019 were not met, under former Sheriff Ty Trenary, they will not re-accredit the agency in 2021. This was confirmed by a September 2023 email from the WASPC to then-Sheriff Adam Fortney.
However, in this same email, Strachan notified former Sheriff Fortney that after years of the WASPC working with his team, the SCSO was on track to become accredited in 2024.
The accreditation process is an eight-step process that takes place over the course of one year and ensures the Sheriff’s Office is in compliance with all requirements for WASPC accreditation. The Sheriff’s Office passed a mock assessment in December 2023 and had a final on-site assessment and evaluation on March 29, 2024. The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office received the official WASPC Accreditation Award from the Executive Board on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.
The Snohomish County Jail is accredited and was just re-accredited in October of 2023, and is the only large jail in the state of Washington to be accredited.
Author: Lynnwood Times Staff
