Press Release  State Police Earn Accreditation from Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission

Framingham — Colonel Christopher Mason is pleased to announce that the Massachusetts State Police have earned full accreditation from the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission (MPAC).

“This achievement is a reflection of the professionalism, rigor, and high performance of members of the Massachusetts State Police, whose dedication to meeting and exceeding the top standards of the law enforcement field is second to none,” said Colonel Mason. “Accreditation reflects a commitment to the public we serve to meet and uphold best practices of the policing profession. More than a one-time award, it carries into all aspects of our daily mission to protect the safety of those who live, work, raise families, or travel in Massachusetts.”

“Awarded by independent assessors, the MPAC accredidation is a testment to the expertise, responsiveness, and dedication of the Massachusetts State Police and its members. This latest achievement represents the Department’s diligent pursuit of excellence and reaffirms its commitment to the highest standard of law enforcement practices,” said Public Safety and Security Secretary Terrence Reidy. “I’d like to commend Colonel Mason, his command staff, and all department personnel for accomplishing this goal and for their unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional police services thoughout the Commonwealth.”

Accreditation is a rigorous, and comprehensive evaluation process that includes an internal review of the agency seeking the evaluation, as well as an external assessment by the Commission, which consists of leaders and experts in the state’s law enforcement community. The process is the most effective way for an agency to measure itself against established national and regional law enforcement best practices.

The MPAC’s accreditation vote is the culmination of a years-long assessment conducted by the independent commission on numerous aspects of the MSP’s policies and procedures, operations, and facilities. The decision makes the MSP the largest police department in the state awarded accreditation.

The MPAC Accreditation Program consists of 257 mandatory standards and 125 optional standards. In order to achieve accreditation status, the MSP was required to meet all applicable mandatory standards as well as 75 percent of the optional standards. These carefully selected standards include such topics as Agency Authority; Use of Force; Recruitment, Selection, and Promotion of Personnel; Training, Discipline and Internal Affairs; Patrol, Traffic Operations and Criminal Investigations; Victim/Witness Assistance; Emergency Response Planning; Prisoner Transportation and Custody; Records and Communications; and Collection and Preservation of Evidence.

“We conducted a thorough review of each of our policies, procedures, and operations,” added Colonel Mason. “When deemed necessary, policies, procedures and operations were refined to ensure that our Department is aligned with recognized best standards in the delivery of policing services.”

Colonel Mason recognized MSP Accreditation Manager William Pinkes for spearheading the Department’s accreditation effort. The MCAP offers two program awards, certification and accreditation, with the latter being the higher standard.

In August 2022, the Massachusetts State Police Crime Lab (MSPCL) achieved accreditation renewal from the ANSI National Accreditation Board, the largest forensic accreditation body in North America. After a rigorous evaluation, the MSPCL was granted renewal for exemplifying best practices in international testing, calibration standards and forensic-specific standards.

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