This document constitutes an agreement between the New Jersey Public Safety Accreditation Coalition (NJPSAC), a not-for-profit corporation, and the member agency hereinafter referred to as the “Member Agency”.

II. PURPOSE

This Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) sets forth procedures for the commencement of a mock assessment for the member agency and subsequent obligations.

As you known or will come to learn, the New Jersey Public Safety Accreditation Coalition is comprehensive network of Accreditation Managers who help each other progress through and excel in the self-assessment phase of accreditation. The help an agency has received in the past has been the direct result of other member agencies that were helped and mentored by senior Coalition members. The Coalition will ask that your agency return this service for other new accreditation managers and agencies when you become accredited. This is the only way this completely volunteer organization can exist and prosper.

While this MOU is not legally binding on a member agency it does stand as a membership agreement and your cooperation is strongly needed to make accreditation in New Jersey a success. This MOU serves to outline and clarify what is expected of your agency and your accreditation manager when you become accredited and advise you of possible expenses related to performing your mock assessment. The Coalition feels these requests are, at a minimum, strongly needed to maintain the current professionalism and performance of the Coalition and we appreciate you and your agency’s support in making accreditation a success in New Jersey.

III. AGREEMENT

By signing below, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and the Accreditation Manager (AM) of the member agency acknowledge their understanding and agree to the following:

1. Mock Assessment Reporting Procedure:

Upon the completion of the mock assessment, the mock assessment team leader will provide the member agency’s AM with a completed File Review Form (FRF) for every file that is reviewed and some supplemental notes. It is the responsibility of the member agency’s AM to supply the mock assessment team leader with a photocopy (in numerical order) of all the FRFs and supplemental notes before the mock assessment team leaves the agency. The Member Agency will retain all FRFs and supplemental notes until they are accredited by CALEA and/or the NJSACOP, or if they fail to become accredited, they will retain all FRFs and supplemental notes until advised otherwise by the NJPSAC Executive Director in writing. The NJPSAC will confidentially retain all copied documents in an identical manner as the Member Agency.

2. Mock Assessment Incidental Costs:

The member agency shall furnish all consumable supplies necessary for the mock assessment. These supplies include, but are not limited to highlighters, note pads, sticky notes, markers, etc. The member agency shall also provide the mock team with access to a photocopier.

The member agency MAY be required to reimburse members of the mock assessment team for their transportation expenses (mileage, tolls, parking) while traveling to and from the mock on-site assessment location. The mileage rate is set at the current IRS rate. The agency’s accreditation manager will be provided with a completed Mock Assessment Expenses Report at the completion of the mock assessment. The member agency will be billed for the expenses by the Coalition, who will in turn reimburse the mock assessor.

The member agency understands and agrees that due to the availability and scheduling constraints of mock assessors, it may be necessary to assign a mock assessor(s) whose travel time to the agency will exceed one hour. In such cases, the member agency may be required to provide lodging for the mock assessor if he/she requests such arrangements. Payment for lodging must be made, TO THE HOTEL, by the member agency, prior to the mock assessment date. Mock assessors are not authorized to incur any incidental lodging expenses unless related to the mock assessment and only when approved by the member agency. The member agency will reimburse the assessor(s) for such expenses. The NJPSAC is not responsible for any incidental charges made in violation of this MOU.

3. Training and Participation as a Mock Assessor:

Upon achieving accredited status, the CEO of the member agency agrees to allow the agency’s AM to attend a NJPSAC Mock Assessor Basic Training course. The CEO agrees to allow the agency’s AM to participate in at least two (2) mock assessments per year for three years following the date agency was granted accreditation status by either the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) or the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police (NJSACOP). By signing below, the designated AM also agrees to attend Mock Assessor Basic Training and participate in mock assessments as described above. Should the member agency assign a new AM prior to the expiration of this MOU, the CEO will notify the Executive Director of the NJPSAC in writing (email) of this change and certify that the new AM agrees to the conditions herein.

The CEO recognizes that the voluntary nature of the Coalition requires the active participation of its members to achieve its goals and objectives and as such, he/she further agrees to the following:

A. Continued Membership in the NJPSAC:

The CEO agrees to maintain his/her agency’s membership in the NJPSAC until this MOU expires in accordance with Article V of this MOU.

B. Attendance at the Annual New Jersey Accreditation Conference:

The CEO agrees to send his/her agency’s AM, at a minimum, to the annual New Jersey Accreditation Conference until this MOU expires in accordance with Article V of this MOU. The CEO understands that the annual conference provides important in-service training and this training is vital to the success of the agency and the Coalition.

C. Non-Sanctioned Mock Assessments:

The member agency AM or any other department personnel agree not to perform or participate in any mock assessment not sanctioned by the NJPSAC.

IV. ASSIGNMENT OF MOCK ASSESSORS

There are two (2) choices:

1. NJPSAC Mock Assessor Staff:

The NJPSAC maintains a staff of experienced accreditation managers and assessors who perform mock assessments for member agencies. This service requires no additional fee to be paid by the member agency outside that which is identified in Article III of this MOU.

2. NJPSAC Advanced Strategies Group:

The Advanced Strategies Group (ASG) represents a unique blend of individuals with executive level law enforcement qualifications and proven law enforcement accreditation experience with expert knowledge in police management, the accreditation process, policy, operations, logistics, personnel, legal issues, and strategic planning. The ASG has provided accreditation training, consulting, and mock assessment services to all size law enforcement agencies throughout New Jersey and New York. NJPSAC members have the benefit of direct access to and use of the ASG mock assessment services. However, this service requires an additional fee. For more information please contact the Coalition’s Executive Director at 908-235-1999 or at executive_director@njpsac.org.

V. MOU EXPIRATION

This MOU will remain in full force and effect and is binding on the Member Agency until the one of the following occurs:

1. The agency fails to be granted accredited status by either CALEA and or the NJSACOP.

2. The three (3) year time period (identified in Article III, section 3 of this MOU) expires.

VI. NON-COMPLIANCE WITH MOU

An agency’s Non-Compliance with this MOU may be grounds for a suspension of their membership after a hearing before the Coalition’s Board of Directors.