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Assessors praise local police

JANESVILLE — The Janesville Police Department is a month or two from learning results from the final report of a Wisconsin Law Enforcement Accreditation Group assessment team, and the department won’t receive its much-anticipated re-accreditation until mid-August.

The three-person team left Janesville with high praise for the local police department and only minor suggestions on how to improve recordkeeping, Deputy Police Chief Steve Kopp reported.

“It was very nice to hear their comments in the exit interview,” Kopp said. “I think they were very impressed with our department and the way it operates.”

The team will report to the accreditation’s group board, which will make the final decision on re-accreditation. If granted, re-accreditation is scheduled to be announced at the state police chiefs’ annual meeting in mid-August, Kopp said.

The department first was accredited in 2000. Only 16 of Wisconsin’s 350 police departments are so recognized, and another 10 are in the process, Kopp said.

The assessors were in Janesville for three days to review the department’s records, meet employees and hear from the public.

They found the department to be complying with the group’s 233 accreditation standards and made only minor suggestions on paperwork, Kopp said.

“It was pretty gratifying that they couldn’t find anything operational that needs to be changed,” Kopp said.

The assessors praised several aspects of local police operations, including the Street Crimes Unit, SWAT Team and its cooperation with similar teams from Rock County and Beloit, the department’s field training officer programs and educational outreach to students and staff through the Janesville School District.