T-L Photo/GAGE VOTA Bridgeport Police Chief John Bumba poses with the Lexipol award for Excellence in Law Enforcement Policy Management in his office on Tuesday evening.

BRIDGEPORT — Bridgeport Police Department was recently recognized for excellence in law enforcement policy management by Lexipol.

“It’s really about that external validation,” Assistant Police Chief Darby Copeland said.

He added that policy and procedures should be the foundation of every law enforcement agency, and he believes that it is not only having the policies but that the officers also know and understand the policies.

According to Lexipol website, “Lexipol provides fully developed, state-specific public safety policy services and policy management software for law enforcement, corrections, fire and rescue and local government.”

Lexipol allows the police officers to have an app on their phone with all of the policies, and they are based on Ohio law.

“Most things from a law enforcement perspective do not need to happen right now, so you can take that step back. All officers have an app on their phone and it’s on the computers in their car,” Copeland said.

The officers also receive monthly questions about the policies on the Lexipol website and app.

“We want to be very open and transparent and provide our community and the greater community with whatever information whenever we can,” Copeland added.

The Bridgeport Police Department also received an Ohio Collaborative Certification.

Police Chief John Bumba said that his two main goals when he became police chief were to receive the Ohio Collaborative Certification and to implement Lexipol.

“I want somebody else looking in on us and making sure we’re doing things right,” Bumba said.

The road to becoming Ohio Collaborative Certified is a lengthy process, they said. It is broken down into six separate groups, and they said Bridgeport Police Department is the only agency in Belmont, Jefferson and Monroe counties that is certified in all six groups.

“This isn’t a one-time deal. We have to submit each year for recertification. And not only do we have to submit, we have to provide documentation and proof that we are doing the things that we said we are doing,” Copeland said. “So it’s do what you say, say what you do and prove it.”