For the last 18 months, the Newton Police Department (NPD) has been working to become fully accredited through the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission (MPAC). If all goes well, the final step will be an On-Site Assessment for Accelerated Accreditation over April 23-24.

During the On-Site Assessment, a facilitator from MPAC and three assessors (from Concord, Marlborough, and Uxbridge police departments) will determine whether NPD has met the 128 MPAC mandatory standards plus at least 65% of the 120 MPAC optional standards. The standards cover a wide range of the department’s general orders and standard operating procedures regarding everything from use of force and cruiser operation to cell-block lighting and fire signs.

Residents’ comments encouraged

As part of the accreditation process, MPAC encourages residents to submit written comments about the department with respect to the accreditation standards. Comments may be mailed to MPAC, 110 Haverhill Rd., Amesbury MA 01913.

Accreditation is typically a two- to three-year process. Through the accreditation process, police agencies voluntarily strive to meet and maintain standards established by the profession. According to NPD’s accreditation manager, Lieutenant Daniel Devine, NPD changed its affiliation two years ago from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) to MPAC in order to be more aligned with Massachusetts regulations and guidelines.

Last year, NPD successfully completed an earlier step in the process, achieving MPAC Certification by completing 178 standards. Accreditation is the final step. According to Lt. Devine, “being accredited and meeting MPAC standards …enhances our department’s reputation, promotes accountability, and
displays to the public our desire to maintain the highest standards.”

Following MPAC’s standard recommendation for preparing for the On-Site Assessment, NPD invited independent professionals to conduct a mock assessment over March 5-6. According to Lt. Devine, “the mock assessment went well and we’re in a good position” for a successful On-site Assessment on April 23-24.

According to MPAC, of the 251 Massachusetts law enforcement agencies participating in MPAC, currently 14 are only Certified, 7 are only Accredited, and113 are both.

Ed. Note: We corrected the date of the mock assessment. It was during March 5-6, not April.