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Paradise Valley Police Department Awarded Initial Accreditation

TOWN OF PARADISE VALLEY POLICE DEPARTMENT

Informational Release

2/12/2021

Commander Freeman Carney

(480) 948-7418

Paradise Valley Police Department Awarded Initial Accreditation

On January 28th, 2021, the Arizona Association of Chiefs of Police voted to award the Paradise Valley Police Department initial accreditation through the Arizona Law Enforcement Accreditation Program (ALEAP). The award was presented during the Paradise Valley Town Council meeting on February 11th, 2021, by President Michael Soelberg, of the Arizona Association of Chiefs of Police to the PVPD Chief of Police, Peter Wingert.

The Paradise Valley Police Department is now one of ten law enforcement agencies accredited through ALEAP. The Paradise Valley Police Department has proven to the ALEAP Commission (Commission) that the Department is compliant with the 175 standards that the Commission has adopted by achieving accreditation. These standards are considered “best practices” for law enforcement agencies in the State of Arizona. The initial accreditation is awarded to agencies for a 4-year period.

To be awarded initial accreditation, the Paradise Valley Police Department began a self-assessment period on April 11th, 2019. During this time, the Department revised and updated policies and procedures, audited Department operations, and provided practice-based evidence to ALEAP.

Police departments have two years to meet the 175 standards, and the Paradise Valley Police Department was ready for their final assessment in less than a year and a half. ALEAP Accreditation Manager, Commander Carney, stated, “this achievement was a team effort, and everyone in the Department pitched in to make sure we were successful. The residents and visitors of Paradise Valley can be confident that their police department provides professional police services that meet best practices for law enforcement agencies.”

Through accreditation, the Paradise Valley Police Department has voluntarily taken steps to improve the delivery of public safety services by maintaining professional standards to help build lasting relationships within our community that fosters trust.

To read the full final Assessment Report for accreditation of Paradise Valley Police Department by the ALEAP Assessors, please visit: https://alertpv.us/FinalAssessment

The Arizona Association of Chiefs of Police (AACOP) is the accrediting agency in Arizona. For more information regarding the Arizona Law Enforcement Accreditation Program, please visit https://www.azchiefsofpolice.org/aleap-accreditation-program.

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A dip in revenue: Photo radar remits dramatically decrease in FY 2017-18

From Town of Paradise Valley Independent

The Town of Paradise Valley’s historic photo radar system yielded the lowest net revenue accrued in the past five fiscal years, records show.

While funds collected from tickets issued to speeders and red-light runners has topped $1 million in recent years, fiscal year 2017-18 saw only $147,040 in fees.

In 1987, the Paradise Valley Police Department became the first agency in the nation to utilize photo enforcement. At that time, the Town Council authorized the use of photo enforcement in direct response to a steady increase of collisions in town.

Now, there are five fixed photo enforcement locations, with two mobile photo enforcement vans, whose deployment locations vary.

Paradise Valley remits collected from photo radar goes to the town’s General Fund, and is considered part of public safety, according to Paradise Valley Police Department Lt. Michael Cole.

“The primary goal for photo radar is to improve public safety and with behavior changes it is expected that violations will decrease over time,” Lt. Cole said. “Photo radar is cost-effective, as photo radar revenues decrease, so do associated costs.”

Read the entire article at this link.