Snohomish County Sheriff's Office Receives Accreditation Through WASPC

The Snohomish County Sheriff's Office announced Tuesday that it is officially an accredited law enforcement agency through the Washington State Sheriffs and Police Chiefs Association (WASPC).

Sheriff Susanna Johnson, Lt. Tom Morris and Deputy Jacob Holmes received certification from the WASPC board on behalf of the Spokane Sheriff's Office on Wednesday, according to the news release.

The goal of law enforcement agency accreditation is to professionalize the law enforcement industry by providing a review process for agencies to be certified as operating according to best practices and standards of the industry.

“It is an honor to receive this certification on behalf of the men and women of the Sheriff’s Office who have worked hard this year to better serve our community in a way that ensures we are following best practices and professional standards,” Johnson said. “In combination with our already accredited prison, we join a small group of Washington agencies accredited in both areas. Our office remains committed to increasing public trust and providing professional public safety services to all members of our community.

The accreditation process is an eight-step process that takes place over the course of a year and ensures that the Sheriff's Office is in compliance with all WASPC accreditation requirements.

The Sheriff's Office successfully completed a mock assessment in December 2023 and conducted a final on-site assessment on March 29. The Snohomish County Sheriff's Office received the official WASPC Accreditation Award from the Board of Trustees on May 22.