Police Department Undergoing Accreditation Process

Salem, MA - A team of assessors from the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission is scheduled to arrive on Tuesday May 3 to begin examining various aspects of the Salem Police Department’s policies and procedures, operations and facilities.

Verification by the Assessment Team that the Department meets the Commission’s standards is part of a voluntary process to gain and maintain State Accreditation -- 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.

The Massachusetts Police Accreditation Program consists of 257 mandatory standards as well as 125 optional standards. In order to achieve accreditation status, the Department must meet all applicable mandatory standards as well as 75 percent of the optional standards.

Achieving accreditation is a highly prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence, according to department officials.

Anyone interested in learning more about this program is invited to call Captain Kate Stephens, Accreditation Manager.