Bergen County Communications Center earns state law‑enforcement accreditation

The Bergen County Communications Center was awarded police‑agency accreditation by the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police after nearly two years of policy updates, training revisions and an on‑site assessment, county officials announced at the Bergen County Board of Commissioners meeting. The accreditation signals the center met a set of state and national standards for public‑safety communications, officials said. County leaders said the accreditation recognizes steps the Communications Center took to align policies and training with best practices and to support first responders and county residents. "I can't tell you how much it means to me that I know that when I go to you, you understand how important these things are," said Director Charles Schwartz, Bergen County Communications, thanking the county executive and commissioners for support. A representative of the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police said the assessment team found "a perfect on‑site assessment" for Bergen County and presented a certificate of accreditation. Commissioners and the county executive's office joined Director Schwartz and Communications Center staff on the meeting floor for proclamations and photographs. Commissioners described the accreditation as the result of a heavy, sustained effort and commended the center's staff for improving policies, training and operations during the review process. Several commissioners noted the role accreditation plays in shared‑service agreements with municipalities and said other towns have been seeking similar arrangements with the county's public‑safety communications operation. Director Schwartz named members of his accreditation team during remarks: accreditation manager Chief Sean Stewart; assistant accreditation manager Lisa Curry; and supervising PST Kelly Minella. Schwartz said the process required coordination across the department and thanked county leadership for their support. The board then opened the meeting to public comment and proceeded with the evening's business. The accreditation is an agency‑level certification and does not itself change county ordinances or budgets; county leaders said maintaining accreditation will require ongoing reviews and compliance with the program's standards over the coming years.