Why did the Albemarle County Police Department postpone its accreditation review?

We reported last week that the Albemarle County Police Department had voluntarily postponed its accreditation inspection until 2025.

Now we know why.

“We are currently addressing three critical areas: the revision of our policy manual, the update of our K-9 policy, and enhancements to our Evidence Unit’s practices,” Col. Sean Reeves, the chief of police in Albemarle County, wrote to ACPD employees in an email dated June 6.

Augusta Free Press obtained a copy of the email through a public-records request made last week.

“I want to be clear,” Reeves wrote, “this is not about placing blame or making excuses. It is about taking ownership of our current situation and setting a course for improvement.”

We also have a records request out to the Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission to see if we can learn more about the Albemarle County PD’s decision to delay its accreditation review to 2025.

In the email to ACPD employees, Reeves noted that the decision to delay the review was made “after careful consideration and consultation with the Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission, internal leadership, and those closest to the work.”

“The past four years of our current accreditation term have brought significant challenges, including the pandemic, leadership transitions, an internal change in accreditation management, and updates to our policies and procedures. As identified by inspectors from the recent mock-accreditation inspection, these events have impacted our readiness for the upcoming final inspection,” Reeves wrote.

In addition to the records request to the state commission, I have put questions on whatever impact on operations at the Albemarle County PD the decision to delay the accreditation review might have.