By KENNEDY GRIFFIN
(Greenfield, MA) Greenfield Police Chief Robert Haigh has announced that the Greenfield Police Department’s was awarded with a certificate of re-accreditation by the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission on October 26th. The Greenfield Police Department is the only agency within Franklin County to participate in the statewide accreditation commission and they have attained the higher of the two program awards offered between accreditation and certification.
The accreditation team was comprised of Accreditation Manager, Deputy Chief William Gordon and Lt. Todd Dodge and Sgt. Christopher Greene. To become accredited and maintain their accreditation they have had to meet 382 standards regarding policies, procedures, equipment, and facilities. This includes emergency response planning; training, disciplines, and internal affairs; recruitment, selection and promotion of personnel; and holding facilities.
The process involves a self-assessment, an on-site assessment, and a commission review. Their certificate of re-accreditation will be valid for the next three years.
Participating in the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission (MPAC) allows law enforcement agencies to judge their performance based on an established set of standards. It also requires agencies to commit their policies to writing and promotes accountability. Find more information on the MPAC on their website.