FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, May 9, 2016

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Rowley Police Department Awarded Full State Re-Accreditation

ROWLEY – Chief Scott A. Dumas is pleased to announce that the Rowley Police Department earned full state re-accreditation from the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission (MPAC) last week.

The department received its award at a ceremony on Thursday, May 5 at the Connors Center in Dover.

Accreditation is a self-initiated evaluation process by which police departments strive to meet and maintain the highest standards of law enforcement practice. It is considered the best measure of a police department against the established best practices around the country and region.

“I am honored to have been chosen to lead a department that has been as committed and dedicated to the accreditation process as the Rowley Police Department,” Chief Dumas said.  “This was a department-wide effort, but I would like to specifically commend Sgt. Dave Sedgwick for his hard work and diligence as our accreditation manager. Due in large part Sgt. Sedgwick’s leadership, the Rowley Police Department was able to receive re-accreditation for the fourth time, having first received accreditation in 2003.”

The process includes an intense self-review and an external assessment by the commission’s external team of subject matter experts.

The MPAC program requires that departments meet all 257 of their mandatory standards and 60 percent of the 125 optional requirements. These carefully selected measures include: Jurisdiction and Mutual Aid, Collection and Preservation of Evidence, Communications, Working Conditions, Crime Analysis, Community Involvement, Financial Management, Internal Affairs, Juvenile Operations, Patrol Administration, Public Information, Records, Traffic, Training, Drug Enforcement, Use of Force and Victim/Witness Assistance.

“Going through the process initially requires intense self-scrutiny, and ultimately provides a quality assurance review of the agency,” said Donna Taylor Mooers, Executive Director of MPAC. “Achieving Accreditation from the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission is a very significant accomplishment and a recognition highly regarded by the law enforcement community.”

Under the leadership of Retired Chief Robert Barker, the Rowley Police Department was assessed in December by a team of commission-appointed assessors, and found the department to be in compliance with all 257 applicable standards for Accreditation. This is the 4th award granted by the commission to the Rowley Police Department.

The commission offers two program awards: Certification and Accreditation, with Accreditation being the higher of the two. Accreditation has been granted for a period of three years. Participation in the program is strictly voluntary.

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