Sentinel photo by BROOKE CROUSE Pictured, from left, are James Adams, Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association accreditation program manager; David Clemens, Lewistown Police Department chief of police; Mayor Deborah Bargo and Council President Matthew Moore. The police department accepted its accreditation on Monday.

LEWISTOWN — The Lewistown Borough Council recognized the Lewistown Police Department’s accreditation achievement Monday in addition to approving the resignation of Borough Manager Tyler Fink, among other business.

James Adams, Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association accreditation program manager, presented the department with its Certificate of Law Enforcement Accreditation following a detailed presentation regarding accreditation.

Adams said, “I’d just like to briefly mention what this certificate means because there’s an awful lot of work,” and “just hanging the certificate on the wall, I don’t think brings justice to what it represents.”

The accreditation process involved policy manual updates, mock assessments and a two-day on-site review by three assessors.

Adams said the department demonstrated compliance with nearly all standards, with only five minor file maintenance issues quickly corrected.

Adams added that annual self-reporting on compliance and triannual reassessments ensure ongoing adherence to the program, supported by a standards committee updating best practices regularly.

According to Adams, the Lewistown Police Department became one of 198 accredited departments out of the approximately 1,100 municipal police departments in Pennsylvania.

Adams stated that the department complied with 125 standards with several best practices embedded in those standards, resulting in a total of 370 best practices.

“For each one of those 370 best practices, they had to have two proofs of compliance,” Adams said.

Adams added, “Accreditation reduces legal risks, as studies show accredited departments face fewer lawsuits and lower payouts.”

Adams also said that the accreditation assessment team stated, “The Lewistown Borough Police Department is a professionally managed law enforcement agency committed to modern and progressive ideals, policies and technologies.”

Borough manager resigns

Later during the meeting, the council, in the absence of councilman Larry Searer, approved:

-The resignation of Fink, borough manager, effective Nov. 20, due to other employment as the athletic and community relations director at Penns Valley Area School District;

-Jim Fosselman as the Interim Borough Manager effective Nov. 20;

-To advertise the borough manager position.

Council members expressed their gratitude for Fink’s service and their regret at his departure.

Councilwoman Lisa Knudson said, “I can’t say enough about Tyler and what he’s done for the borough and mending relationships and contacts. And (I) regret seeing him go, but well done, Tyler.”

The Borough’s 2026 budget in addition to other business will appear in a future edition of the Sentinel.

Lewistown Borough Council will meet again at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 15, at the Lewistown Community Center.