Holbrook Police Chief William J. Smith, center, holds a Certificate of Accreditation from the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission on Wednesday, Oct. 30. (Photo courtesy Holbrook Police Department)
HOLBROOK — Chief William J. Smith is pleased to report that the Holbrook Police Department has earned accreditation from the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission (MPAC).
The Holbrook Police Department received a Certificate of Accreditation on Wednesday, Oct. 30. Accreditation lasts three years, meaning the department will remain accredited until 2027, when it undergoes a reaccreditation process.
Chief Smith wishes to recognize Accreditation Manager Sgt. Andrew Martins for his efforts in coordinating the process.
Accreditation is a self-initiated, lengthy, and comprehensive evaluation process. Participating departments complete an internal self-review and an external assessment by MPAC experts. The process is a voluntary 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.
The Massachusetts Police Accreditation Program consists of 257 mandatory standards and 125 optional standards. To achieve accreditation status, the department was required to meet all applicable mandatory standards and 55 percent of the optional standards.
These carefully selected standards reflect critical areas of police management, operations, and technical support activities. They cover areas such as policy development, emergency response planning, training, communications, property and evidence handling, use of force, vehicular pursuit, detainee transportation, and holding facilities.
“I am proud to share that the Holbrook Police Department has received accreditation,” Chief Smith said. “I am very thankful to everyone in the department for their contributions, as it has been a group process to receive this honor. With this accreditation, we can compare our policing practices against the best procedures in law enforcement to guarantee the protection of the community to the best of our ability.”
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