Friday, March 28, 2014

MBTA Transit PD receives 3rd Re-Accreditation from CALEA


MBTA Transit Police Department was Awarded


“Re-Accreditation” Status

On March 22, 2014, the MBTA Transit Police Department received its 3rd re-accreditation award from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA).   The Department was originally awarded accreditation status in 2005.
MBTA Transit PD Chief Paul MacMillan (right center) 2014 CALEA Awards

 Accreditation is a self-initiated evaluation process by which police departments strive to meet and maintain standards that have been established for the profession, 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.

 Under the leadership of Chief Paul S. MacMillan, the MBTA Transit Police Department was assessed in October, 2013 by a team of 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 accreditation standards by CALEA, Chief MacMillan appointed Officer Roberta Spinosa to serve as the Department’s Accreditation Manager.      

 
BENEFITS OF ACCREDITATION 

 The standards for accreditation impact officer and public safety, address high liability/risk management issues, and generally promote operational efficiency throughout the agency.  The benefits are therefore many and will vary among participating departments based on the state of the department when it enters the process.  In other words, the benefits will be better known when the department quantifies the changes that it made as a direct result of achieving accreditation.  Generally, these changes involve policy writing, facility improvements, and equipment purchases. Listed below are some of the more common benefits. 

 

Accreditation:


· provides a norm for an agency to judge its performance.

· provides a basis to correct deficiencies before they become public problems.

· requires agencies to commit policies and procedures to writing.

· promotes accountability among agency personnel and the evenhanded application of policies.

· provides a means of independent evaluation of agency operations.

· minimizes an agency’s exposure to liability, builds a stronger defense against lawsuits, and has the potential to reduce liability insurance costs.

· enhances the reputation of the agency and increases the public’s confidence in it.
 
 
 
 
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