SWANSEA — Chief Marc Haslam is pleased to announce that the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission (MPAC) will conduct an examination of various aspects of the Swansea Police Department’s policies and procedures, operations and facilities next month.
The MPAC Assessment Team is scheduled to begin the on-site assessment beginning Tuesday, Oct. 12.
Verification by the Assessment Team that the department meets MPAC standards is part of a voluntary process to maintain state accreditation — a self-initiated evaluation process by which police departments strive to meet and uphold standards that have been established for the profession, by the profession.
“I am pleased to announce that this will be the Swansea Police Department’s fifth time undergoing the MPAC’s accreditation assessment,” Chief Haslam said. “By undergoing the accreditation assessment process, we look to reaffirm our department’s commitment to upholding the highest standards in law enforcement and meet the ever-changing standards and needs of our community.”
Swansea Police received State Accreditation for the first time in 2010. Accreditation is up for renewal every three years, and the department was successfully re-accredited in 2013, 2016 and 2018.
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 60% of the optional standards.
Anyone interested in learning more about this program is invited to contact Lt. Patrick Mooney, the Department’s Accreditation Manager, at 508-674-8464 ex.137. Information about the program can also be found on the MPAC website.
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