Understanding Accreditation
WI-PAC & WILEAG Explained
Wisconsin Police Accreditation Coalition (WI-PAC)
- Comprised of accreditation managers and assessors from all over the State of Wisconsin
- Resource for agencies involved in the accreditation process
- Provides guidance in file construction and Standards interpretation
- Network for communication, support, and sharing of resources.
- Works in cooperation with WILEAG to enhance accreditation through standards
review and process recommendations - Meets quarterly – second Wednesday in Jan/Apr/July/Oct
- Provides training and mentoring in achieving accreditation
- Resource for sample policies and proofs of compliance
- Assists with mock assessments to member agencies for both Full Accreditation
and Core Verification - Primary trainers for Accreditation Manager training classes
Wisconsin Law Enforcement Accreditation Group (WILEAG)
- The formal governing body to bestow accredited status
- Develops, modifies, edits, and amends the Standards manuals
- Resource for accreditation application process, copy of standards & all forms
- Provides guidance & direction with standard interpretation
- Promotes the development of quality policies, procedures and directives
- Maintains current roster of Accredited Agencies to identify local resources
- Facilitates scheduling of Core Verification reviews and on-site assessments
- Primary trainers for Assessor and Team Leader training classes
When Applying with WILEAG for either Full or Core, both the application fee and annual fees include automatic membership to WI-PAC. However, Wisconsin Law Enforcement agencies who have not signed up with WILEAG for accreditation may elect to join only WI-PAC for $50 annually.
Interested in Accreditation? Learn about how to begin the process
Getting Started
Is your agency new to accreditation? Or, are you newly assigned to Accreditation?
- Attend Accreditation Manager Training ASAP
- Offered once or twice a year – One Day, Free of Charge
- Check here for current listing
- Get involved with WI-PAC
- Meets quarterly in-person (currently at Middleton PD)
- Amazing networking opportunity to set agencies up for success
- WI-PAC will assign a mentor to all new agencies automatically, and to any staff members newly assigned to accreditation (upon request)
- Visit the agency map to see if neighboring agencies are involved and may be able to offer assistance
- Shadow a mock assessment and an on-site assessment
- Helpful to see what assessors are looking for
- Gauge what your agency’s on-site assessment might be like in the future
- Gives a sample of the file set up and room set up
- Determine what type of file system to use
- Paper
- Homegrown digital system
- Agency-purchased accreditation product
- Considerations for on-site assessments in the future
- Three (3) computers, dual monitors, internet access, product and/or system reliability in three years, archive ability
Cyclical Flow of Accreditation
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- Assign a staff member as the Accreditation Manager and attend training
- Accreditation Manager and any other agency staff are strongly encouraged to become involved with WI-PAC
- Review standards and determines agency’s current level of compliance
- Begin policy development and file construction
- Need a policy sample? Check out the library on WI-PAC’s Deer Creek site
- Determine which standards are Not Applicable by Function
- Agency assesses if they believe they are in compliance with each standard
- Gathers appropriate proofs of compliance
- After approximately ten (10) files are completed, connect with WI-PAC for a cursory file review
Once an agency is satisfied that it can demonstrate compliance with all applicable standards; a planned mock assessment should be completed in advance (at least three months) of an on-site date or Core File Review.
- Use the contact list from WI-PAC to self-schedule – download the list and save it locally near the needed date. The list changes very frequently.
• Strongly encouraged for Full Accreditation (In person – Agency should consider providing lunch)
• Required for Core Verification (Remote vis Dropbox)
- As the date nears, Team Leader will be in contact with Agency AM
- Complete and print the required forms
- On-site lasts three days (Tues-Thurs) and is conducted by a team of three trained assessors
- The agency is responsible for the costs associated with the assessor’s per diem, lodging, and mileage – all billed after the fact
- File review occurs remotely – make take up to 60 days to complete
- Agency will be expected to make needed repairs
- WILEAG Board reviews findings and makes an accreditation determination
- Normal accreditation bestowal is for three years
- Agencies recognized at the annual WI Chiefs conference in February
- Attend Assessor class (Can attend the class anytime its offered; there is no requirement to wait until an agency receives accreditation before attending a class)
- Respond to WILEAG inquiries for Assessor needs
- The expectation is to pay in kind – Agency must provide an Assessor three times over the three-year cycle (see Guiding Principle 5.1)
- The three-year cycle starts over
- The agency will be asked to re-certify continued compliance each year when paying annual dues to WILEAG
What to expect during an on-site assessment
Full On-Site Chronology
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- Introduction to accreditation manager, key staff, and Chief or Sheriff
- Completion of static display and tour of facility
- Assessor workroom
- Private / Confidential / Uninterrupted
- Telephone
- Ample space for assessors to spread out
- Supplies: pens, post-it notes, highlighters, legal pads
- Agency resource table; policy manuals, labor contracts, emergency plans, organizational chart, staff roster w/ phone numbers, newsletters, budget, etc.
- Accreditation files
- Access to restrooms
- Access to the accreditation manager for the 3 full days
- File review
- File review
- Staff and community interviews
- Public information – open phone line (mandatory for all)
- Public information session (if applicable) – mandatory for first time agencies
- Must be video recorded by the agency
- Standard specific tours
- Ride-along activities
- Department meetings: Citizen Academy, Block Watch meetings, etc.
- All compliance review activities should be completed, including all repairs
conducted during the on-site - Assessment team will collaborate on a final report outline
- All documents required to support the final report will be gathered
- The assessment team will conduct an exit conference with the Chief or Sheriff
