On May 1, the Marion Police Department received state Certification from the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission.
Certification is a self-initiated evaluation process by which police departments strive to meet and maintain standards that have been established for the profession, by the profession. 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, prisoner transportation and holding facilities. The program not only sets standards for the law enforcement profession, but also for the delivery of police services to the citizens of the Commonwealth.
“Achieving Certification from the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission is considered a very significant accomplishment and is a recognition that is highly regarded by the law enforcement community,” said Donna Taylor Mooers, the Commission’s Executive Director.
Under the leadership of Chief Lincoln Miller, the Marion Police Department was assessed on April 10 and 11 of this year by a team of Commission-appointed assessors.
“Going through the process initially requires intense self-scrutiny, and ultimately provides a quality assurance review of the agency,” said Mooers. To conduct this self-assessment and prepare for the on-site review of the 159 standards by the Commission, Chief Miller appointed Lieutenant John Garcia to serve as the Department’s Accreditation Manager. The department’s job is not done, however, as Chief Miller’s ultimate goal for the Department is to achieve the Commission’s highest award: Accreditation.
Marion is currently one of 20 of the 176 participating agencies in Massachusetts to be granted Certification status. As of today, it is the only department in Plymouth County to hold this status. Certification has been granted for a period of three years. Currently 51 agencies are fully accredited, with only three departments located in Plymouth County. Participation in the program is strictly voluntary.