For Immediate Release

Friday, Sept. 13, 2019

Media Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: ben@jgpr.net

Bridgewater Police Awarded Full State Re-Accreditation

BRIDGEWATER — Chief Christoper Delmonte is pleased to announce that the Bridgewater Police Department earned its re-accreditation from the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission (MPAC) this week.

This is the first time the Bridgewater Police Department has earned re-accreditation through MPAC. They first earned certification in 2015 and received full accreditation in 2016. MPAC recognized the department for its achievement during a ceremony at the Connors Center in Dover Tuesday, Sept. 10.

The accreditation process is long and vigorous. It involves both an internal self-review and an external assessment by the Commission’s team of experts. The process is a self-initiated evaluation by which police departments strive to meet and maintain the top standards of law enforcement. It is considered the best measure for a police department to compare itself against the established best practices around the country and region.

Under the leadership of Accreditation Manager Sgt. Thomas LaGrasta, with assistance from Capt. Thomas Schlatz, the Bridgewater Police Department was assessed earlier this year by a team of commission-appointed assessors. The Assessment Team found the department to be in compliance with all applicable standards for re-accreditation.

“Earning re-accreditation for the first time illustrates that the Bridgewater Police Department has continued to uphold the highest standards of policing since first achieving accreditation in 2016,” Chief Delmonte said. “I want to thank our Accreditation Manager Sgt. LaGrasta and Captain Schlatz who have worked these past three years to ensure that the Bridgewater Police Department maintains all best practices in the profession.”

The MPAC program requires that departments meet all 257 of their mandatory standards and 60 percent of the 125 optional requirements. These carefully selected measures 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 and Victim/Witness Assistance.

The Commission offers two program awards: certification and accreditation, with accreditation the higher of the two. Accreditation is granted for a period of three years. Participation in the program is strictly voluntary.

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