MANCHESTER-BY-THE-SEA — Chief Todd Fitzgerald is proud to announce that the Manchester-by-the-Sea Police Department earned accreditation from the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission.
The years-long, self-initiated process includes rigorous independent review and evaluation by MPAC of the department’s compliance with 257 mandatory standards and 125 optional standards. To achieve accreditation status, the department must meet all applicable mandatory standards, as well as 70 percent of the optional standards.
An assessment team from MPAC visited the department in September 2021, reviewing management, operations, technical support activities, policies, emergency response planning, training, communications, facilities, equipment, evidence handling, use of force, vehicular pursuit policies, prisoner transportation and holding facilities among other topics.
The accreditation process is aimed at providing accountability among agency personnel and ensuring policies are applied evenhandedly; providing a statewide norm against which agencies can judge their performance; providing a basis to correct deficiencies before they become public problems; providing independent evaluation of agency operations; enhancing the reputation of an agency, increasing public confidence; and minimizing insurance costs and agency liability.
The Manchester-by-the-Sea Police Department also earned accreditation in 2019. Accreditation lasts for three years before departments must have their operations reviewed again.
Accreditation also ensures the Manchester-by-the-Sea Police Department is prepared to meet the demands of POST legislation and the requirements it created as part of the state’s police reform law.
“Accreditation is an important part of the efforts of the Manchester-by-the-Sea Police Department to be a transparent and professional law enforcement organization. Review by MPAC is a rigorous process, but we welcome the opportunity to have our department reviewed top to bottom by an outside, independent agency,” said Chief Fitzgerald. “I would like to thank Executive Officer Lt. Mark A. McCoy, Accreditation Manager Officer Ryan L. Machain, and Sgt. Stephen Louf for their hard work and dedication in leading this effort, and to thank all of the sworn and civilian members of the department. This was a total team effort that included everyone at the Manchester-by-the-Sea Police Department.”