On June 14, 2002, Rowley was first in the state to receive "Certification" status from the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission. On October 10, 2003 the department was the thirteenth in the state to be awarded full "Accreditation" from the same commission. Today, October 5, 2006, the department was "Re-Accreditated".
Accreditation 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 within the Commonwealth, but also for the delivery of police services to the citizenry.
Achieving "Accreditation" from the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission, Inc. is the highest award given, and is a recognition that is highly regarded by the law enforcement community. Participating in the state's program and achieving accreditation allows departments to demonstrate that they are among the finest in the state. The status of Accreditation is granted for a period of three years. Participation in the program is strictly voluntary.
Under the leadership of Chief Kevin Barry, the Rowley Police Department underwent a two day assessment in August by a team of Commission-appointed assessors. The Assessment Team found the Department to be in compliance with all 237 applicable "Mandatory Standards". In addition the department was required to meet 73 of the 120 "Optional Standards" but was found to be in compliance with 76 of those standards exceeding the required minimum.
Going through the process initially requires intense self-scrutiny, and ultimately provides a quality assurance review of the agency. In 1997, Chief Barry appointed Lieutenant Robert Barker, who is now Deputy Chief of Police, to serve as the Department's Accreditation Manager.
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On October 17, 1996, Governor Weld signed Executive Order No. 392 authorizing the Secretary of Public Safety to establish the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission within the Executive Office of Public Safety. The Commission was established through the combined efforts of the Executive Office of Public Safety (EOPS), the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association (MCOPA) and the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Coalition (MASS-PAC), a statewide association of law enforcement accreditation managers.
In October of 2003 the State eliminated funding for the program and closed it down but in January of 2004 the program re-emerged as a private, not for profit corporation. The new MCAP Inc. operates in a very similar fashion to the State funded program, using a nine member Board of Directors and an Executive Director. |
The standards for accreditation impact officer and public safety, address high liability/risk management issues, and promote operational efficiency throughout the agency. The benefits of accreditation are therefore many and will vary among participating departments based on the state of the department when it enters the process. In other words, the benefits will be better known when the department quantifies the changes that it had to make as a direct result of achieving accreditation. Generally, these changes involve policy writing, facility improvements and equipment purchases. Listed below are some of the more common benefits: |
Recent events in America and through out the World underscore the need to reassure the general public that the law enforcement profession is prepared, trained, and ready to handle future emergencies and calls for service. Agency preparedness begins with having a formal Written Directive System that incorporates professional state-of-the-art standards into agency policy, rules, procedures and plans. By achieving accreditation the Rowley Police Department demonstrates its capabilities to respond to the public safety needs of the community. |
