The Rhode Island Police Accreditation Commission honored several individuals at their annual awards ceremony Wednesday. Pictured, left to right, Capt. Matthew Benson, Johnston Police Department (Assessor of the Year); RIPAC Executive Director Christine Crocker; Sgt. Ricardo D. Mourato, Bristol Police Department (Accreditation Manager of the Year co-recipient); Lt. Diana Perez, North Providence Police Department (Accreditation Manager of the Year co-recipient); Paul F. Dutra, Esq., Property/Liability Claims Manager for the Rhode Island Interlocal Risk Management TRUST (Chief Anthony M. Pesare Leadership Award); RIPAC Chairman Chief Richard St. Sauveur. (Photo Courtesy Rhode Island Police Accreditation Commission) The Rhode Island Police Accreditation Commission honored 14 police departments for achieving accreditation or reaccreditation status during the past year. (Photo Courtesy Rhode Island Police Accreditation Commission) RIPAC Chairman Chief Richard St. Sauveur congratulates Chief Thomas Oates of the Woonsocket Police Department on the WPD’s reaccreditation status. (Photo Courtesy Rhode Island Police Accreditation Commission) One of the four agencies honored for initial accreditation was the Community College of Rhode Island Police Department. Accepting the award was Chief Sean Collins and Captain Joseph Hopkins. They are pictured with RIPAC Executive Director Christine Crocker. (Photo Courtesy Rhode Island Police Accreditation Commission) One of the four agencies honored for initial accreditation was the Tiverton Police Department. Accepting the award was Chief Patrick Jones and Sergeant Marco Valzovano. They are pictured with RIPAC Chairman Chief Richard St. Sauveur. (Photo Courtesy Rhode Island Police Accreditation Commission) RIPAC Chairman Chief Richard St. Sauveur speaks to open Wednesday’s awards ceremony. (Photo Courtesy Rhode Island Police Accreditation Commission) Officers, award recipients and invited guests applaud one of the departments honored for accreditation Wednesday. (Photo Courtesy Rhode Island Police Accreditation Commission) Rhode Island Police Chiefs’ Association Executive Director Sid Wordell speaks during Wednesday’s ceremony. (Photo Courtesy Rhode Island Police Accreditation Commission)
RHODE ISLAND– The Rhode Island Police Accreditation Commission (RIPAC) is pleased to announce it held an awards and accreditation recognition ceremony this week to recognize several departments across the state.
The ceremony, held Wednesday, June 30 at the Great Hall at the Community College of Rhode Island-Warwick campus, highlighted 14 police departments for achieving accreditation status during the past year.
“We offer our sincerest congratulations to each of the newly accredited departments, reaccredited departments and individual awards winners,” said RIPAC Chairman Chief Richard St. Sauveur. “Rhode Island is a nationwide leader in accreditation participation, and it is because of agencies and individuals such as those we honor here today that our program continues to be as successful as it is.”
Departments receiving recognition included:
Initial Accreditation: Lincoln Police, Tiverton Police, Community College of Rhode Island Police, Rhode Island College Police
Reaccreditation: Glocester Police, Charlestown Police, North Kingstown Police, Pawtucket Police, Portsmouth Police, Rhode Island Capitol Police, Woonsocket Police, West Warwick Police
CALEA agencies attaining RIPAC reaccreditation: Cranston Police, Smithfield Police (CALEA — the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies — is a national credentialing authority).
“Accreditation is no easy task for a department to achieve,” said RIPAC Executive Director Christine Crocker. “All of these agencies worked extremely hard and diligently to maintain these high standards, even despite the pandemic. Having been an accreditation manager myself I know how difficult the process is, and my hat goes off to each department honored here today.”
In addition to accreditation recognition, the following awards were presented:
Chief Anthony M. Pesare Leadership Award: Paul F. Dutra, Esq., Property/Liability Claims Manager for the Rhode Island Interlocal Risk Management TRUST
Assessor of the Year: Capt. Matthew Benson, Johnston Police Department
Accreditation Manager of the Year (two recipients): Lt. Diana Perez, North Providence Police Department; Sgt. Ricardo D. Mourato, Bristol Police Department
RIPAC first held an awards ceremony in 2019, but was unable to hold an in-person event last year due to the pandemic.
Despite the pandemic, the Rhode Island Police Accreditation Commission worked hard to ensure the strict accreditation process was followed for those agencies going through the accreditation process.
Normally RIPAC would conduct accreditation evaluations in person, but due to the pandemic part of their work over the past year and a half was done remotely. It was a challenge to keep the process thorough while also abiding by health and safety precautions.
Nearly 100% of departments in the state participate in the accreditation program, and after the June 30 ceremony 34 of 46 agencies in the state will have achieved accreditation status.
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