On Tuesday, July 28, 2009, at the Chesapeake City Council Meeting, Sheriff John Newhart accepted a Certificate of Accreditation from the Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission on behalf of the Chesapeake Sheriff's Office.
The Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission is composed of the Virginia Sheriffs' Association, the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police and the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services. The goal of accreditation is to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of law enforcement agencies in the Commonwealth through the delivery of services; to promote cooperation among all components in the criminal justice system; to insure the appropriate level of training for law enforcement personnel; and to promote public confidence in law enforcement.
Out of 417 law enforcement agencies in the Commonwealth of Virginia, 77 are accredited. This accomplishment places the Chesapeake Sheriff’s Office into an elite category throughout the Commonwealth.
Additionally, the Chesapeake Sheriff’s Office is now a TRIPLE CROWN ACCREDITED AGENCY. The accreditations include: Virginia Department of Corrections, National Commission of Correctional Health Care and Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission.