The Arlington Police Department has been certified by the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission (MPAC), an independent organization, Chief Frederick Ryan announced March 10. This formal recognition means the department meets or exceeds national standards of performance and operational effectiveness established for law enforcement by the law enforcement profession.  Arlington is the 32nd police department in the state to achieve MPAC certification.

The certification is the result of a voluntary evaluation process in which the department was independently assessed against 151 specific standards of excellence in police management, operations and technical-support activities. The standards reflect best practice in areas such as policy development, emergency response planning, training, communications, property and evidence handling, use of force, vehicular pursuit, prisoner transportation and holding facilities.

“Achieving certification from the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission is considered a very significant accomplishment, and is a recognition that is highly regarded by the law enforcement community,” said Donna Taylor Mooers, MPAC program administrator, in a news release the department provided.

Under the leadership of Chief Ryan, Arlington police were assessed in November 2007 by a team of commission-appointed assessors. The assessment team found the department in compliance with all applicable standards for certification.

“Going through the process initially requires intense self-scrutiny, and ultimately provides a quality assurance review of the agency,” Mooers said. 

To conduct this self-assessment and prepare for the on-site review of the 151 standards by the commission, Ryan appointed Capt. Richard Kennefick to serve as the department’s accreditation manager. Kennefick’s job is not done, however, since maintaining certification status is an ongoing process. The current certification, granted March 6, lasts three years. 

MPAC is a nonprofit professional organization governed by eleven commissioners appointed through the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police, the Massachusetts Police Association, the Massachusetts Municipal Association and the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Coalition, plus a representative from an academic institution with expertise in law enforcement and public safety.

The standards for certification impact officer and public safety, address high liability/risk management issues, and promote operational efficiency and accountability throughout the agency. Generally, these changes involve policy writing, facility improvements and equipment purchases. Listed below are some of the more common benefits. 

Certification:

• provides a norm for an agency to judge its performance.
• provides a basis to correct deficiencies before they become public problems.
• requires agencies to commit policies and procedures to writing.
• promotes accountability among agency personnel and the evenhanded application of policies.
• provides a means of independent evaluation of agency operations.
• minimizes an agency’s exposure to liability, builds a stronger defense against lawsuits, and has the potential to reduce liability insurance costs.
• enhances the reputation of the agency and increases the public’s confidence in it.

Mooers added, “Police certification and accreditation work to reassure the general public that the law enforcement profession is prepared, trained and ready to handle future emergencies and calls for service.  Agency preparedness begins with having a formal and current Written Directive System that incorporates best business practices into agency policies and operational plans.”