AUTHORITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
NFTA Transit Police Earn NYS Law Enforcement Accreditation
ALBANY, N.Y.- The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority Police Department (TAPD) has officially achieved initial Law Enforcement Accreditation from the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) Accreditation Council. This significant milestone happened Thursday, September 12, during an Executive Meeting attended by Chief Brian Patterson and Deputy Chief Patrick Weidel in Albany, New York.
The DCJS Accreditation Council, consisting of law enforcement leaders from across the state, carefully reviewed and audited the 111 standards that the TAPD must meet to obtain accreditation. These standards, grouped into three key categories—Administration, Training, and Operations—are designed to elevate a law enforcement agency’s professionalism, effectiveness, and efficiency while fostering public trust.
The Law Enforcement Accreditation Program is a voluntary initiative open to police departments and sheriffs’ offices across New York. It serves to formally recognize agencies that meet or exceed high standards of quality in their operations. By achieving accreditation, TAPD demonstrates its commitment to maintaining professional practices, adhering to formalized policies, and ensuring that its personnel are fully trained and aware of the expectations tied to their roles in the agency’s mission.
Agencies that receive accreditation must undergo reassessment every five years to ensure continued compliance with program standards. The program is administered by the DCJS Office of Public Safety, with support from trained assessors who evaluate each agency's adherence to the required criteria.
New York State was the first in the nation to implement a law enforcement accreditation program, launching the initiative in 1989. Since then, the program has evolved to address emerging legal, policing, and societal issues, with standards continually updated to reflect the needs of New York's law enforcement community.