Township council with Evesham police and personnel after the agency received both national and state accreditation in 2025.
Evesham Township Police Chief Tom Reinholt and agency personnel recently presented township council with certificates signifying the department’s recent reaccreditation from both the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (C.A.L.E.A.) and the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police (NJSACOP).
Police accreditation is a voluntary and rigorous process that promotes accountability and operational excellence by ensuring law-enforcement agencies adhere to established professional standards. The accreditations reflect the department’s commitment to upholding the highest level of policing practices in Evesham.
The NJSACOP reaccreditation, specific to New Jersey police agencies, was awarded following a commission hearing in South Brunswick in October. The CALEA reaccreditation, which represents a national standard, was presented at a commission hearing in Jacksonville, Florida, in November.
Reinholt explained that this year was the first time the police department was accredited for both NJSACOP and CALEA in the same year.
“We were first (state) accredited back in 2007,” Reinholt noted at council’s Dec. 10 meeting. “That started our framework to get national accreditation, (which) we got in 2011. Since that time, we’ve been accredited through the (state) every three years, and through CALEA every four years.
“This is the first time both happened in the same year, two months apart.”
The achievements establish the township department as one of only four municipal police agencies in New Jersey to hold both CALEA and NJSACOP accredited status.
“We’re very thankful for the community that allows us to do this,” Reinholt noted.
Evesham police then presented the certifications.
“(Council) would like to one, say thank you to our police department,” said Evesham Mayor Jackie Veasy. “We’re very honored to have one of the few (police departments) here in Evesham to have both accreditations.
“We really do appreciate everything (the department) does to take care of our community, and I know our community really appreciates it as well.”
The milestone was further honored by Assemblywoman Andrea Katz and a representative on behalf of Congressman Herb Conaway, both of whom presented proclamations and letters to Reinholt and the agency to congratulate them on the honors.
“I got to say, I’m not really surprised to hear that (Evesham police) were one of the few (who received both accreditations),” Katz observed. “Every time I come to Evesham, I feel like I’m walking into home, and a lot of it is because of what the members of (its police) do on a regular basis.
“So thank you for continuing to set an example for police departments all over the state.”
