Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree Announces Saugus Police Department Earns State Re-accreditation
(Saugus, MA) September 25, 2019 – Saugus Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree and Interim Police Chief Ronald Giorgetti are pleased to announce that the Saugus Police Department has earned and received its State Re-accreditation from the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission (MPAC). Interim Chief Giorgetti accepted the award at a ceremony at the Connors Center in Dover on September 10, 2019.
The Saugus Police Department first received its accreditation in 2016 following an extensive process to revise and implement standards and update policy. The process requires a department to be in compliance with 246 mandatory and various optional standards involving jurisdiction of mutual aid, collection and preservation of evidence, communications, crime analysis, fiscal management, internal affairs, juvenile operations, public information, records, traffic, training, drug enforcement, victim and witness assistance, and more.
The accreditation certifies that the Saugus Police Department “has fully demonstrated its commitment to police excellence by living up to a body of progressive standards to ensure that the delivery of police services within the Commonwealth is at the highest level of professionalism and integrity and having reflected the best professional practices in each area of police management, administration, operations, and support services,” according to the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission, Inc.
“I am proud of Interim Police Chief Giorgetti and the Saugus Police Department for their professionalism and commitment to best practices, which is reflected in the Town’s award of this State Re-accreditation,” said Town Manager Scott Crabtree. “I would also like to thank the Board of Selectmen, Finance Committee, and Town Meeting for giving us the support to be able to move forward in this esteemed direction.”
The accreditation process is long and rigorous. It involves both an internal self-review and an external assessment by the commission’s team of experts. The process is a self-initiated evaluation by which police departments strive to meet and maintain the top standards of law enforcement. It is considered the best measure for a police department to compare itself against the established best practices around the country and region.
The Saugus Police Department was assessed this June 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, Lt. Timothy O’Brien serves as the department’s Accreditation Manager.
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.
The commission offers two program awards: certification and accreditation, with accreditation the higher of the two. Accreditation is granted for a period of three years. Participation in the program is voluntary.
“Achieving re-accreditation is a testament to the quality of police work at the Saugus Police Department,” Chief Giorgetti said. “I want to thank the Town Manager for his support on this important initiative. I would also like to extend my thanks to all department personnel for their efforts in maintaining the accreditation standards and for their assistance throughout this process. I’d like to recognize Lt. Timothy O’Brien for his continued commitment, dedication and professionalism in managing and maintaining the accreditation standards, along with Detective Lt. David Gecoya, Lt. Michael Ricciardelli, Sgt. Kevin Murphy, and Detective John Daigle.”
Please contact the Town Manager’s office at 781-231-4111 with any questions.
About The Town of Saugus
The Town of Saugus, Massachusetts, is a family-friendly, historic neighborhood Town located along the north shore, ten miles north of Boston. First settled in 1629, Saugus is home to historic sites, top-tier public services, and a thriving business community. Strong community support, a forward-thinking approach to town government, rich recreational opportunities, affordable choices, and easy access to all the amenities that Boston has to offer – they all contribute to make Saugus a Town where businesses flourish and families make their home.
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