The Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police has certified the Geneva Police Department for meeting the eligibility requirements for use of force.

The certification is active for three years and will run through May 16, 2027. The Association, which manages the Illinois Law Enforcement Accreditation Program, notified the City of the certification this month.

“Following our review, we have determined the Geneva Police Department meets the conditions for certification in that the use of force policy has been reviewed and determined to comply with state and federal laws, the United Nations documents on less lethal technology, as well as the SAFE-T Act provisions,” Association Executive Director Kenny Winslow wrote in a letter to the City.

Geneva Police Chief Eric Passarelli wants our community to know, “The Geneva Police Department does not take for granted the trust that is placed in us by our community. To further earn and keep this trust, we regularly review our policies and procedures to ensure they incorporate best practices, meeting all legal standards and mandates. We work hard to provide services to our community in an empathetic, fair, and unbiased manner.”

“The Geneva Police Department conducts a great deal of training to assess our officers on the use of force and ensure they use it only when absolutely necessary,” Chief Passarelli continued.  “During those times when officers do need to use force, we train to make sure it is used reasonably and ceases when no longer needed or effective. The Use of Force Certification, awarded after an independent review by the Illinois Chiefs of Police Association, confirms that we are meeting these important standards that are valuable to those we serve every day.”