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ALBANY – The has earned accreditation from the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services after demonstrating the highest standards in law enforcement during a rigorous, multi-year application process that was initiated when Senator Rob Rolison was the city’s mayor.

On Thursday, the New York State Law Enforcement Agency Accreditation Council unanimously voted to award a Certificate of Accreditation to the Poughkeepsie Police Department during its meeting at the Division of Criminal Justice Services headquarters in Albany.

City Administrator Joe Donat shared news of the accreditation vote on Wednesday during a swearing-in and promotion ceremony for the police department at City Hall.

“I am beyond proud of our Police Department for this remarkable achievement, which signifies that our force is a model of modern policing,” City of Poughkeepsie Mayor Yvonne Flowers said. “This accreditation reflects our Police Department’s commitment to excellence and earning public trust, and Chief Richard Wilson’s unwavering leadership.”

To earn accreditation, which is voluntary, police departments in New York must meet or exceed 112 standards ranging from operations and training to administration, then undergo an intensive review by a team of independent assessors.

The department’s work toward accreditation dates back to 2019, when then-Mayor Rob Rolison and former Police Chief Tom Pape began reviewing and rewriting the department’s policies and procedures. That work laid the foundation for the Procedural Justice Committee, which helped improve community relations and transparency. The committee, co-chaired by then-Common Council Member Yvonne Flowers and Bishop Debra Gause, worked closely with the CPPD to develop a comprehensive police reform plan when Governor Andrew Cuomo issued Executive Order 203.

After Chief Pape retired, current Chief Richard Wilson, when appointed to lead the department in 2024, assigned a full-time accreditation program manager, Officer Carisma Collins, to oversee the process. These efforts, combined with the department’s overall work, led the Division of Criminal Justice Services to assess the police agency in June 2026, resulting in Thursday’s unanimous approval.

“This accreditation recognition strengthens our professionalism, operational consistency, continued improvement in training, and enhances public trust,” Chief Wilson said.

Senator Rolison, a retired police detective, weighed in on the accreditation on Thursday, telling , “Public safety is the number one responsibility of government, and that means ensuring the men and women who protect our communities have the training, policies, and standards they need to do their jobs effectively.” He added that he was proud to help begin the accreditation process and said it was meaningful to see the work come full circle, reflecting years of dedication, professionalism, accountability, and community trust.


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