Chief Scott J. McNamara proudly reports that the Methuen Police Department earned certification from the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission (MPAC).
Certification is a self-initiated evaluation process by which police departments strive to meet and maintain the highest standards of law enforcement. Certification is considered the best measure of a police department against the established best practices around the country. Certification means:
- The department is committed to meeting professional standards.
- The department is willing to be assessed regularly by Commission-appointed assessors to confirm compliance with professional standards; and
- The department agrees to correct deficiencies discovered during the assessment to establish or re-establish compliance with standards.
The voluntary MPAC program requires that departments meet 159 mandatory standards to attain certification. Standards include maintaining up-to-date policies on 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 and Victim/Witness Assistance.
The certification process is long and rigorous. The Methuen Police Department’s certification efforts involved a self-review and subsequent evaluation by a team of Commission-appointed assessors who visited the department for a two-day assessment on June 28 and 29, and found the department to be in full compliance with all of the necessary standards required for certification.
Certification is considered a significant step toward accreditation, which requires departments to meet additional benchmarks in order to achieve MPAC’s highest standard for police departments, and Chief McNamara fully intends for the department to seek accreditation as well.
“This is a proud day for the City of Methuen and the Methuen Police Department. Having been recognized as a certified law enforcement agency, we are now well on our way toward achieving our end goal, accreditation,” Chief McNamara said. “This recognition confers legitimacy to our organization. It’s an acknowledgment that the men and women of the Methuen Police Department are servicing the citizens of Methuen in a manner that is consistent with modern-day best practices.”
Chief McNamara added, “Even more important than the award itself is all the collective effort that went toward achieving it. I think this shows we are a department made up of men and women, sworn and civilian, who are all truly pulling in the same direction. It makes me ever hopeful and optimistic of our collective future.”
Certification and, eventually, accreditation, will also ensure the Methuen Police Department is prepared to meet the demands of POST legislation and the requirements it created as part of the state’s police reform law, as well as the public’s expectation that the Department be transparent.
“Today is a day that all the citizens of Methuen can celebrate the accomplishments and professionalism of the Methuen Police Department,” said Mayor Neil Perry. “In just one short year, under Chief McNamara’s leadership, a tone has been established that the entire community can see and appreciate. I’d like to also personally extend my sincere appreciation to Lt. Eric Ferreira and Sgt. Matt Mueskes for their leadership on the certification and accreditation process.”
As part of the accreditation process, another in-person assessment will be conducted by MPAC representatives on Dec. 13 and 14. Accreditation requires departments the size of Methuen Police to meet an additional 98 mandatory and 75 optional standards beyond those required for certification.