Eddystone police hit major milestone

Eddystone Police Chief Ed Mokshesfky and the 10 full-time and three part-time officers in the borough’s police department proudly accepted the honor at Council’s September meeting of being the first borough police department in Delaware County to receive an “accredited status” by the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association.

Accreditation is a set of standards set by the Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission under the management of the state police chiefs association. In 2021 Mokshefsky said his department was seeking accreditation.

“Every officer was asked to accept more responsibility,” Mokshefsky said at the Council meeting. “Every officer stepped up to the task with eagerness and resolve. Officer Michael Golden accepted the role of accreditation manager, Lt. Pretti, Sgt. McNamee and officer Golden worked diligently with me, reviewing policies, training and formulating ideas throughout the process.

“I have the honor to announce that on July 26, 2022, at the (annual) Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Education and Training Conference, the Eddystone Police Department received ‘accreditation status’.” The borough police chief pointed out the benefits of accreditation, including decreases in liability insurance expenditures, improvement in law enforcement community relations, developing improved methods of providing services to the community, and extending agency accountability to the public and elected officials.

The borough police department enlisted the help of the Aspirant Consultant Group in Pittsburgh to help formulate policies and procedures.

Mokshefsky thanked current and past elected officials, borough administration staff, state and county officials and local police chiefs for their support.

In another police matter, Ed Kienzle was sworn in as a full-time police officer. An Army veteran, Kienzle served as a part-time police officer in the borough.