February 4th, 2020
FREETOWN – The Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission (MPAC) awarded the Freetown Police Department with its’ highest honorary accomplishment. Chief Carlton E. Abbott, Jr. and Sergeant Scott M. Rose represented the Department at MPAC award ceremony held at the Connors Center in Dover, Massachusetts. The Department was recognized for hard work and professionalism of its officers and staff.
Over the course of three days during October of 2019, a five-person MPAC assessment team performed an assessment at the Freetown Police Department. The team reviewed and carefully examined the Department’s policies and procedures, rules and regulations, and standing orders. The team performed an entire inspection of the Department’s facility and related equipment. Once the assessment was completed, the team reported the results to the MPAC Executive Board for further review and approval.
Today, the Freetown Police Department, together with thirteen law enforcement agencies, attended the MPAC Awards Ceremony. Among those agencies attending, the Department, having been involved with accreditation since 2006, received the MPAC 2nd Re-Accreditation Award. The MPAC Executive Board recognized that the Department had complied with 242 mandatory standards, and an additional 93 optional standards (representing 74% of available optional standards). Although the Department consists of 42 full-time, part-time, and civilian personnel, the number of optional standards completed met or exceeded the number of standards required for agencies consisting of 300 officers and civilians.
“Achieving Accreditation from the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission is a significant accomplishment and a recognition highly regarded by the law enforcement community,” said Chief Carlton E. Abbott, Jr. “Out of the more than 350 municipal police departments, county law enforcement agencies, state law enforcement agencies, campus police departments, and other law enforcement agencies in our Commonwealth, only ninety have the honor of claiming Accreditation.”
The Commission offers two program awards: Certification and Accreditation, with Accreditation being the higher of the two. These awards are granted for a period of three years. The Freetown Police Department has participated in the voluntary process since 2007 when the agency received its’ first Certification Award and second Certification Award in 2012. The agency reached an additional milestone by receiving its’ first Accreditation Award in 2014 and first re-accreditation award in 2017.
Public Information Officer
Lieut. Steven E. Abbott