Hickory Police Department awarded accreditation with NCPSCAP
The Hickory Police Department was recently awarded accreditation with the North Carolina Public Safety Communications Accreditation Program (NCPSCAP), becoming the first agency to earn this accomplishment.
HPD began the NCPSCAP process on March 1, 2026. For the Communications Center to be accredited, our department had to meet 56 standards set forth by the North Carolina Public Safety Communications Accreditation Program.
Hickory Police Chief Bryan Adams announced this pursuit last year saying the goal was to further strengthen HPD’s Communications Center and enhance the support provided by the men and women who serve our officers and the Hickory community.
HPD is also the first law enforcement agency in North Carolina to be dually accredited as our agency earned the North Carolina Law Enforcement Accreditation (NCLEA) certificate in August of 2025.
HPD was recognized at the Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission on Friday, Nov. 6, 2026. In attendance were Deputy Chief Jeff Young, Captain Wes Gardin, and Captain Justin Levey. Also in attendance was the team behind this effort: Accreditation Manager Jennifer Harris, Telecommunications Supervisor Summer Andrews, and Lead Telecommunicators Erin Diaz and Jena Halcomb.
“Becoming the first agency in North Carolina to be dually accredited through both NCLEA and the NCPSCAP is a milestone for our department, but more importantly, it is a promise to our community,” Chief Bryan Adams said. “Accreditation isn’t a one-time plaque on the wall—it requires us to continuously prove that we are following the highest standards and the best policies in policing and emergency communications every single day. Holding ourselves to that level of accountability builds trust, strengthens our partnerships and ensures we are delivering the very best service to the people we protect.”
To learn more about North Carolina Law Enforcement Accreditation, visit https://ncdoj.gov/north-carolina-law-enforcement-accreditation/.