Englewood Police Department earns state accreditation, officials say

The Englewood Police Department received its first state accreditation certificate on June 9, a milestone officials said reflects years of work to align the department with state and national best practices.

"This department has made a commitment to adhering to best practices at the state and national level," said Harry Delgado, accreditation program director for the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, as he presented the certification. Delgado said roughly 54% of eligible agencies complete the rigorous process and praised Englewood for professionalism, transparency and preparedness.

Chief Thomas Gley thanked department staff and singled out Deputy Chief Del Rosa and Lieutenant Rob Ouzi as the accreditation manager and assistant manager who coordinated the review. "This is a result of three years of tedious work to get us in line with the best standards," the chief said, adding the recognition offers objective evidence of leadership, resource management and service delivery.

Delgado told the council the accreditation is more than a ceremonial distinction: it signals a department’s commitment to written policies, verified practices and continuous improvement, and can strengthen public confidence while reducing organizational risk.

Council President Rosenwagen and other elected officials joined in congratulating the department and applauded the staff’s effort. The certificate was formally presented at the meeting and received applause from the chamber.

City officials said the accreditation review included an assessors’ report recommending certification; the process required documenting policies, procedures and operational practices across divisions. The presentation did not include changes to department policy or immediate implementation tasks beyond the accreditation report and the city’s continuing oversight.