Accreditation is a self-initiated process by which police agencies voluntarily strive to meet and maintain standards that have been established for the law enforcement profession by the profession.

The program establishes standards on best practices for police agencies to adopt. Agencies then establish written directives and procedures for their personnel to implement. Standards dictate which topical areas an agency must have policies and procedures, leaving the agency’s chief executive officer and supervisory staff to develop and enforce agency-specific policies and procedures. Most of the Commission’s standards require agencies to commit their often-unwritten policies and procedures to writing. The remaining standards are equipment or facility related (generally found in communication centers, holding facilities, and property rooms).

Achieving Certification or Accreditation means that the agency has agreed to adopt our program’s standards as a way of doing business.

That said, being certified or accredited means that:

Participation in the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Program is voluntary.  Agencies may participate in the program or not, as they wish, and may withdraw from the Program at any time during the process without prejudice, upon written notice to the Commission.  The Commission promotes the concept of voluntary self-regulation and encourages maximum participation in the Program.