On July 28, 2009 Sheriff John Newhart received the Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission Accreditation at the City of Chesapeake City Hall. . Sheriff F.W. Howard Jr. of New Kent County and Sheriff Brian Roberts of Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office presented Sheriff John R. Newhart with the Certification.The Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission is composed of the Virginia Sheriffs’ Association, the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police and the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services. The goal of accreditation is to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of law enforcement agencies in the Commonwealth through the delivery of services; to promote cooperation among all components in the criminal justice system; to insure the appropriate level of training for law enforcement personnel; and to promote public confidence in law enforcement. This makes the Chesapeake Sheriff’s Office a TRIPLE CROWN ACCREDITED AGENCY. The accreditations include: Virginia Department of Corrections, National Commission of Correctional Health Care and Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission. Out of 417 agencies (Police & Sheriff) 77 are accredited. This makes the Chesapeake Sheriff’s Office fall into an elite category throughout the Commonwealth. The Accreditation team comprised of Capt. David Hackworth, Lt. Barbara Lennon, Master Deputy John Aten and Deputy Specialist Verita Brinkley. Sheriff Newhart commented that this would not be possible without the help and support of Chief Wright and the Chesapeake Police Department and all his staff at the Sheriff’s Office.
