Great Barrington Police Department awarded re-accreditation status
Great Barrington — On Feb. 4, the Great Barrington Police Department received state re-accreditation from the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission.
Accreditation is a self-initiated evaluation process by which police departments strive to meet and maintain standards that have been established for and by the profession. These carefully selected standards reflect critical areas of police management, operations and technical support activities. They cover areas such as policy development, emergency response planning, training, communications, property and evidence handling, use of force, vehicular pursuit, prisoner transportation and holding facilities. The program not only sets standards for the law enforcement profession, but also for the delivery of police services to citizens of the commonwealth.
Under the leadership of Chief William Walsh, the GBPD was assessed in October by a team of Commission-appointed assessors. The assessment team found the department to be in compliance with all applicable standards for accreditation: 326 standards with three years of proof of compliance.
The Commission offers two program awards: certification and accreditation, with accreditation being the higher of the two. Accreditation has been granted for a period of three years. Participation in the program is strictly voluntary.
The Great Barrington Selectboard offered congratulations to the GBPD on this milestone achievement at the board’s Feb 24 meeting.
