BY BRIDGET TURCOTTE
SAUGUS — The Saugus Police Department has been recognized for its standards for serving the community.
The department received an Achievement Award from the Essex County Chiefs of Police Association Jan. 6 as a result of becoming certified by the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission (MPAC) in June.
Chief Domenic DiMella accepted the award on behalf of the department at the monthly Essex County Chiefs of Police Association at the Andover Country Club.
“It is an honor to receive additional recognition for the hard work and countless hours that went into achieving certification last year,” DiMella said.
“I would like to thank the Essex County Chiefs of Police for acknowledging that the Saugus Police Department continues to implement best practices that ensure we serve and protect our community to the best of our abilities,” he said.
Becoming certified by MPAC is described as being a long and vigorous process by the department. During the process, which is self-initiated, police departments strive to meet and maintain the highest standards of law enforcement.
Certification is considered to be the best measure of a police department against the established best practices around the country and region, DiMella said.
The Saugus Police Department was evaluated by a team of commission-appointed assessors who determined that the department was in full compliance with all necessary standards required for certification.
Standards 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.
“The Essex County Chiefs of Police is pleased to have the opportunity to honor the dedication of the Saugus Police,” said Gloucester Police Chief Leonard Campanello, who is president of the Essex County Chiefs of Police Association. “Saugus should be proud of this achievement by its police department.”
Bridget Turcotte can be reached at [email protected].
