Ephrata police receive state accreditation

EPHRATA — The Ephrata Police have become only the second law enforcement agency in Grant County to be accredited by the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs (WASPC).

“It’s a big thing,” Police Chief Mike Warren told the Ephrata City Council on Wednesday. “This enhances our professionalism, prestige, and it will support the department in litigation.”

To become accredited, the Ephrata Police had to show that for the last four years, they followed state laws and procedures in everything from gathering and keeping evidence to informing mental health agencies in the event of a suicide threat or report.

The agency also had to show that they kept records on everything the law requires, in the way the law requires, for as long as the law requires.

“It was a four-year process, and it reflects best practices for law enforcement across the state of Washington,” said Heather Rhoades, evidence manager and accreditation official for the Ephrata Police.

“We have to show compliance and proof, and it’s not the easiest thing,” she said. “We have 133 standards that we have to meet, and we came through without a single non-compliance.”

Rhoades said that WASPC officials came through, asked questions, and examined the EPD’s files looking for any discrepancies or violations of the law.

“They asked a lot of questions to see if what’s on paper is what is actually happening,” she said.

Warren, who heads the WASPC accreditation committee, said he had to stand down for the Ephrata evaluation. He also said the evaluation of his police department made him nervous.

“It would have been very embarrassing if we didn’t pass,” he said.

However, because Ephrata scored so well on the evaluation, Warren said the department has been asked to assist other, much larger departments get their procedures and paperwork in order.

“This is quite a feather in our cap,” Warren said.

The Ephrata Police were last accredited in 2014, and the current accreditation will run through 2022. The city received a plaque, which Mayor Bruce Reim jokingly said he wanted hung inside the entrance of the police department.

“All the criminals who come in will see it,” he said.