Bedford Police Department Awarded Full State Re-Certification

Submitted by John Guilfoil on behalf of the Bedford Police Department

One of the department's community policing initiatives, Coffee with a Cop, took place at the Bedford Library this week. Chief Bongiorno chatted with Evan Deardorff and Mary ___ Image (c) Ginni Spencer, 2016 all rights reserved — One of the department’s community policing initiatives, Coffee with a Cop, took place at the Bedford Library this week. Chief Bongiorno chatted with Evan Deardorff and Mary Drake – Image (c) Ginni Spencer, 2016 all rights reserved

Chief Robert Bongiorno is pleased to announce that the Bedford Police Department earned its re-certification from the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission (MPAC) last week.

The department was recognized for its achievement during an awards ceremony on Sept. 14 at the Connors Center in Dover.

“Achieving re-certification proves that the Bedford Police Department continues to uphold the highest possible standard of policing,” Chief Bongiorno said. “I am proud of our entire department for the hard work that they each continue to put in on a daily basis, which is what makes this award possible.”

Chief Bongiorno and Officer Marc Saucier at the accreditation ceremony - Courtesy image (c) 2016 all rights reserved — Chief Bongiorno and Officer Marc Saucier at the accreditation ceremony – Courtesy image (c) 2016 all rights reserved

Certification is a self-initiated evaluation process by which police departments strive to meet and maintain the highest standards of law enforcement, and is considered the best measure of a police department against the established best practices around the country and region. The certification process is long and vigorous. It involves both an internal self-review and an external assessment by the Commission’s team of subject matter experts.

Under the leadership of Chief Bongiorno, the Bedford Police Department was evaluated earlier this year by a team of commission-appointed assessors. The Assessment Team found the department to be in compliance with all applicable standards for accreditation.

To conduct the initial self-assessment and prepare for the on-site review of the 246 mandatory standards and 83 optional standards by the Commission, Chief Bongiorno appointed Lt. James Graham to serve as the department’s Accreditation Manager.

This is the third time the Bedford Police Department received its certification through MPAC. They first earned the accolade in 2010.

The MPAC program requires that departments meet all the mandatory standards and percentage of the 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 and Victim/Witness Assistance.

Certification has been granted for a period of three years. Participation in the program is strictly voluntary.