For Immediate Release

Friday, May 6, 2016

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 978-841-9948
Email: [email protected]

Maynard Police Department Awarded Full State Accreditation Status

MAYNARD — Chief Mark Dubois is pleased to announce that the Maynard Police Department has achieved full State Accreditation from the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission (MPAC) at an awards ceremony on Thursday, May 5 at the Connors Center in Dover.

Accreditation is a self-initiated evaluation process by which police departments strive to meet and maintain the highest standards of law enforcement practice. It is considered the best measure of a police department against the established best practices around the country and region.

“It has taken a tremendous amount of hard work to get to this point, but we are honored to be recognized as one of the most professional policing agencies in the Commonwealth,” Chief Dubois said. “I am extremely proud of the Maynard Police Department and know that we could not have achieved the level of Accreditation without the dedication of our officers and staff.”

The process includes an intense self-review and an external assessment by the commission’s external team of subject matter experts.

The MPAC program includes 257 mandatory police department standards and 125 optional standards. In order to achieve accreditation, a department must meet all required standards and at least 60 percent of the optional ones.

Standards that are reviewed include: Jurisdiction and Mutual Aid, Collection and Preservation of Evidence, Communications, Working Conditions, Crime Analysis, Community Involvement, Financial Management, Internal Affairs, Juvenile Operations, Patrol, Administration, Public Information, Records, Traffic, Training, Drug Enforcement, Use of Force and Victim/Witness Assistance.

“Going through the process initially requires intense self-scrutiny, and ultimately provides a quality assurance review of the agency,” said Donna Taylor Mooers, Executive Director of MPAC. “Achieving Accreditation from the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission is a very significant accomplishment and a recognition highly regarded by the law enforcement community.”

To conduct an initial self-assessment and prepare for the on-site review, Chief Dubois appointed Lt. Michael Noble to serve as the department’s Accreditation Manager. The Department was assessed in December by a team of commission-appointed assessors. The Assessment Team found the Department to be in full compliance with all applicable standards for Accreditation.

The commission offers two program awards: Certification and Accreditation, with Accreditation being the higher of the two. Accreditation has been granted for a period of three years. Participation in the program is strictly voluntary.

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