Gilford Police 4th agency to receive state accreditation

The Gilford Police Department became the fourth agency in the state to receive accreditation from the New Hampshire Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission Wednesday evening, during a ceremony at Gilford Town Hall. Accreditation recognizes professional excellence in law enforcement, through a commission created in 2022 by executive order of Gov. Chris Sununu, and codified into law in 2025. The commission is made up of 10 representatives: the attorney general or designate, the director of the NH Police Standards and Training Council, a state representative and state senator, three police chiefs, a sheriff, a member of the university system, and a civilian, all appointed by the governor. The commission determines accreditation through a voluntary compliance process where a team of assessors examine all aspects of an agency’s policies and procedures, management, operations and support services. They review written materials, interview individual staff members, observe activities, tour the facility and speak with agency representatives to verify the compliance of 114 set standards. Of the 45 involved agencies, Gilford PD joins Derry, Bow and Stratham police departments in accreditation. “It's a culmination of many months of these guys working very hard to achieve a goal that really sets a standard of excellence for us in law enforcement,” Police Chief Kristian Kelley said.

— Daniel Sarch