Decatur Police Department Receives State Certification

The City of Decatur Police Department has received state certification from the Law Enforcement Certification Program. Certification status represents a significant professional achievement and acknowledges the implementation of policies and procedures that are conceptually sound and operationally effective.

The department, which first obtained state certification in July 2002, was up for a five-year review process in 2007. The certification process is rigorous and less than 15 percent of law enforcement agencies in Georgia have passed it. Participating agencies conduct a thorough self-analysis to determine how existing operations can be adapted to meet required professional objectives. Once the procedures are in place, a team of trained assessors verifies that the applicable standards have been successfully implemented. The process culminates with a decision by a joint executive committee that the agency has met the requirements for certification.

 

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Police Certification Training

Lt. Mike Matics, email, is in charge of departmental training. Decatur's officers average 50 hours of training per year, compared to the state mandate of 20 hours per year required to maintain certification.