Congratulations to the Olympia Fields Police Department (OFPD) on its recent accreditation by the Illinois Law Enforcement Accreditation Program (ILEAP). The ILEAP accreditation process is extremely rigorous, requiring proof of meeting or exceeding 69 areas of ILEAP standards, which represent best practices for developing high-quality law enforcement services and protocols. The OFPD put in hundreds of manhours to become only the 58th police department in the entire state of Illinois to achieve accreditation—an impressive accomplishment.
Led by Chief Derrick Blasingame and Administrative Sergeant Donald Dean, the OFPD’s accreditation team underwent a two-day onsite assessment in May 2023, during which an ILEAP assessment team reviewed the OFPD’s written materials, conducted interviews and compliance inspections, received public comment, and participated in ride-a-longs. The assessment team then submitted recommendations to the full ILEAP council for final approval.
Gaining accreditation was a top priority for Police Chief Derrick Blasingame and his command staff. “Our badge gives us authority; our attitude gets us respect; accreditation will strengthen our professionalism and enable us to reduce risk,” says Chief Blasingame.
The OFPD’s ILEAP accreditation is good for four years. The department will submit annual reports to maintain accreditation.
