Public given opportunity to comment about Wilmington Police

A public information session will be held next week as part of an on-site assessment of the Wilmington Police Department as it seeks accreditation.
Agency employees, elected officials and community members are invited to call into the session from 2 to 3 p.m. on Monday, July 1.
Comments will be limited to five minutes and must address the department's ability to meet standards outlined by the Illinois Law Enforcement Accreditation Program. Written comments may also be mailed or emailed.
An assessment team will be in Wilmington on July 1 and 2 to examine the police department's policies and procedures, management, operations and support services.
“The accreditation process is voluntary and has been a top priority,” said Police Chief Adam Zink. “This will be the first time the department is seeking such an accreditation. Gaining accreditation requires meeting at least 67 areas of ILEAP criteria, which represent best practices for delivering professional service to the community.”
Assessors Steve Waterford and Darryl Harlan of Illinois Law Enforcement Accreditation Program (ILEAP - will review written material, conduct interviews, visit police officers, talk with elected officials, and evaluate other areas of the department.
“Acquiring accreditation is an important achievement for both the department and the community,” Zink said. “A true measure of compliance with these standards is having peers review our practices in person, which is exactly what this assessment aims to achieve.”
Once assessors have completed their evaluation, they will submit their findings to the ILEAP committee chairman, who will review and distribute the report to the full council for consideration. If granted, accreditation lasts four years and would require Wilmington Police administrators to submit annual reports.