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Board authorizes consultant contract to pursue Pennsylvania police accreditation
Summary
The board authorized an ACG service agreement to pursue Pennsylvania police accreditation after the chief outlined an 8–12 month accreditation process and the consulting firm's experience; the board approved the contract and discussed budgeting for future years.
Cowan Township on July 9 authorized a service agreement with an accreditation consultant (ACG) to guide the township police department through Pennsylvania police accreditation.
The police chief explained the accreditation process — managed in Pennsylvania by the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association — typically takes eight to 12 months and requires demonstrating day‑to‑day compliance with dozens of standards. The chief said Deputy Chief Barber will serve as the department's accreditation manager and that the proposed consultant is a former accreditation assessor who previously helped another Pennsylvania department secure both state (PLIAAC) and international (CALEA) accreditation.
"If we approve the contract tonight, we could get started as early as next week," the chief said. The chief and other staff noted potential insurance and grant advantages and said accreditation extends agency accountability to the public and elected officials.
Board members discussed fiscal treatment of next year's recurring contract costs; the chief and manager clarified the initial year cost will be charged to the current authorization and that recurring assistance in years two and three is part of ongoing accreditation support. The board ultimately approved the contract; members rescinded a specific 'not to exceed' number cited on the floor and confirmed approval of the agreement.
The meeting did not include a detailed line‑by‑line contract in the public discussion; staff said they would incorporate the recurring costs into next year's budget and would return to the board with any material contract amendments.
