The Dartmouth Police Department was originally accredited by the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Committee on May 3, 2012 and we were re-accredited on September 5, 2015. Accreditation is the highest award a Massachusetts police department can earn by the Commission.
The three-day assessment consisted of scrutinizing and verifying documentation for compliance with commission established standards required for Law Enforcement Accreditation. The assessment included a tour of the building, the booking facility, communications, emergency power, vehicle inspections, training records, arrest procedures, our field training program, and numerous other vital areas that have been established by the Commission as mandatory requirements for Accreditation.
Accreditation requires police departments to meet a total of 326 standards. In the State of Massachusetts there are 61 Accredited police departments and we are proud to be one of them.
The DPD can realize the following rewards of Massachusetts State Accreditation:
- Comprehensive, well thought-out written directives,
- Reports and analyses to make informed management decisions,
- Preparedness Program in place,
- Improved relationship with the community,
- Strengthen agency’s accountability,
- Limit liability and risk exposure, and
- Assists in agency’s pursuit of excellence.
Please contact the Accreditation office Monday – Friday, 8am-4pm at 508-910-1744.