The Seal Beach Police Department has been accepted into Cohort 2 of the California Accreditation for Public Safety Program, also known as CAPS. The program is a voluntary, standards-based accreditation process managed by the California Police Chiefs Association and designed specifically for California public safety agencies.
CAPS provides policing agencies with a structured process to review policies, procedures, training, documentation, accountability systems, and operational practices against professional standards that reflect California law and public safety expectations.
The program is designed to strengthen organizational effectiveness, promote transparency, improve risk management, and support continued public trust.
“The Seal Beach Police Department is already a highly professional policing organization, and this process will help us become even stronger,” said Chief of Police Michael Henderson.
“Accreditation gives us an opportunity to carefully review our policies, practices, and documentation against California-specific standards,” Henderson said.
“We are proud to enter this process early in the development of CAPS and to be part of a program that supports professionalism, accountability, and continuous improvement in public safety,” Henderson said.
As part of the process, the department will complete a comprehensive self-assessment, review applicable standards, identify existing policies and practices, collect proofs of compliance, and prepare for a formal assessment.
This process requires a careful, department-wide review of how the organization operates, documents its work, and demonstrates compliance with professional standards. The initial accreditation process is expected to take approximately two years.
Capt. Nick Nicholas will serve as the department’s accreditation manager.
As Support Services Bureau captain, Nicholas oversees several administrative, policy, liability, and professional services functions central to accreditation. In this role, he will coordinate the standards review, documentation, and Department-wide preparation for assessment.
The SBPD’s participation in Cohort 2 reflects the Department’s continued commitment to professional policing, accountability, transparency, and public service.
By entering the accreditation process, the department will further strengthen its foundation for effective operations, sound policy, employee development, and community trust.