Russellville Police Department earns KLC safety award
RUSSELLVILLE, Ky. — The Russellville Police Department is being recognized for its commitment to safety, training and risk management.
The department received the Kentucky League of Cities’ 100% Safety and Liability Review Award.
Russellville Police Chief Jeff Sanford says the award shows the department is working to provide the best possible service to the community.
“It means that we’re doing the best we can to serve our citizens, our community, as efficiently and as professionally as possible,” Sanford said.
To earn the recognition, the department takes part in ongoing training and policy reviews throughout the year.
Sanford says the department adopts KLC model policies, which are designed to provide law enforcement agencies with recommended best practices.
The review covers several areas of police operations, including vehicle operations, pursuit procedures, vehicle maintenance, use of force, evidence collection and evidence-room procedures.
It also evaluates procedures involving high-risk and critical incidents.
Officers review department policies each year and are given about a month to complete the review. They then sign off, confirming they have reviewed and understand the policies.
The department also conducts annual response-to-resistance simulator training.
Sanford says maintaining those standards is important because they directly affect how officers serve and protect the community.
“We are doing everything that we can do to be as professional and provide as good a service to the community as we can,” Sanford said.
Now that the department has earned the recognition, Sanford says the goal is to continue meeting those standards and earn the award again.
He says there are no immediate new safety initiatives or equipment purchases planned, although the department could eventually explore adding a K9.
Sanford says the department is proud of its relationship with the Russellville community and wants to continue improving.
“We are attempting to be the best police department that we can be for our community, and we’re always trying to improve,” Sanford said.
