We wanted to share an important update from the U.S. Department of Justice regarding web and mobile app accessibility requirements under **Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)**.

**The compliance deadlines for WCAG 2.1 Level AA have been officially extended:**

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) published an Interim Final Rule in the Federal Register on April 20, 2026.

– For public entities serving **50,000 or more people**: **April 26, 2027**
– For public entities serving **fewer than 50,000 people** and special districts: **April 26, 2028**

This one-year extension gives agencies additional time to achieve full compliance. However, as noted **this is not a grace period** — accessibility remains a legal obligation under the ADA, and agencies are required to continue making meaningful progress.

We strongly encourage every department to use this extra time proactively.Please treat the extension as an opportunity to:
– Complete comprehensive accessibility audits of our websites and digital content
– Remediate existing barriers
– Ensure all new and updated content meets WCAG 2.1 AA standards from the start
– Train staff and establish sustainable accessibility workflows

We will be providing additional guidance, resources, and updated accessibility news as it develops. 

Please be advised  that all public safety agencies that cover jurisdictions with 50K or more citizens must ensure their digital properties (websites) meet federally required WCAG 2.1 Level AA accessibility standards by April 24, 2026. Those that cover less than 50K citizens must be compliant by April 24, 2027.

All agencies currently using the OPS Network Community Interface platform are compliant with WCAG 2.1 Level AA and have received instruction regarding the same.

Non-OPS Network Agencies

Agencies currently relying on the below type of platforms for public facing websites are strongly advised to inquire and explore how to ensure full compliance with WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards by April 24, 2026, regardless of jurisdictional size.

• Older websites
• In-house designed/built platforms
• City or county-managed pages
• Privately hosted or independently maintained websites

After the federal deadline passes, non-compliant digital properties (websites) are subject to regulatory enforcement actions, accessibility complaints, and potential legal exposure under ADA requirements, which can result in significant financial and operational impact. Sanctions can exceed $100,000.00 per violation.

Why This Matters for Public Safety Agencies

While these ADA regulations apply to all government entities, public safety organizations operate under heightened expectations for digital accessibility and equitable access to services and information. 

Agencies must take measures to ensure their websites and public platforms meet the following. This is not an OPTION but the LAW.

• Operate within the required WCAG 2.1 Level AA guidelines
• Ensure all new and updated content is built and deployed using accessible design and development standards from the start
• Provide staff training on accessibility requirements and accessible content creation
• Maintain a documented accessibility policy and remediation plan demonstrating good-faith compliance efforts
• Ensure compliance alignment with applicable NJAOG (Attorney General) guidance and enforcement expectations

Digital accessibility lawsuits can name multiple related public entities—not just the individual agency with the deficient website. When a local law enforcement agency is not WCAG 2.1 AA compliant, plaintiffs’ attorneys may include other agencies such as state, county and local government or Prosecutor’s Offices in litigation based on supervisory or coordinating authority theories, increasing legal exposure, defense costs, and administrative burden even where direct operational control over the website is limited.

If anyone has any questions or require further guidance, please feel free to contact the OPS support team at support@opspolice.com or via phone at 833-677-2677.

Thank you for your attention to this important compliance update and for your continued commitment to accessible public safety communication.

Best regards,
OPS Support Team

**We strongly encourage public safety agencies to explore ways to take control of thier online presence and content, rather than fully relying on city/county managed web pages or traditonal website vendors. Many of these entities and platforms are not held to the same level of scrutiny, accountability, or regulatory standards and often do not fully understand the ever evolving operational, legal, and accessibility requirements of public safety agencies.**

From the “Received Notifications” and “All Notifications” dashboards, LENS users can now view images directly in the list view. Switching from tile view to list view will display the images associated with each notification, making it easier to scroll through and quickly see relevant content.

Additionally, whether accessing a LENS from the list view or opening it directly, users can now click on any image to view a larger version than was previously available. Please note that some images may still be limited in size depending on the original image’s format and dimensions as uploaded by each user.

A special thank you to Det. Robert Rask of the North Brunswick, NJ Police Department for his valuable assistance in implementing this latest update.

NOTE: These changes will currently work from the dektop and mobile web. The native mobile APP will be updated with these, and other additional features, when the next Android and iOS update is released, which is expected within the next couple of weeks. 

See the below video for reference.

The Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office (BCPO) is now fully onboarded as an OPS Network Full Partner, with complete access and integration across the platform.

Following the successful completion of Certified Master Administrator (CMA) training, BCPO is now live and actively connected to the growing community of agencies leveraging the OPS Network for real-time collaboration, secure communication, and coordinated operations.

This milestone reflects BCPO’s strong commitment to advancing interagency cooperation, enhancing operational efficiency, and embracing modern tools that strengthen public safety efforts across jurisdictions.

To all current OPS Full Partners — Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office is now online and available for direct collaboration within the network.

We are excited to officially welcome BCPO and look forward to the continued expansion of collaboration and impact across the region.