Guest columnist David Murphy: Council is undoing 20 years of PD progress
Northampton Police Station
Published: 5/30/2021 2:00:14 PM
In 2002 the Northampton Police Department became accredited by the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission. At the time there were only about a half-dozen Police Departments in Massachusetts that were accredited, today only about 100 of the 351 municipalities in Massachusetts have accredited Police Departments.
The Northampton Police Department made the decision to pursue accreditation on their own, not at the request of the city’s political leadership. The department itself chose to raise its level of professional standards. They did this for two reasons to better serve the citizens of Northampton and to assist in recruiting the best and brightest young people interested in a career in law enforcement to join the NPD.
MARION The Marion Police Department has been re-accredited by the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission.
The accreditation process is a voluntary review process, including a self-review and external assessment by the accreditation commission. The commission offers two awards: certification and accreditation, with accreditation being the more prestigious award.
The commission evaluates departments for management capability and operations competencies, including policy development, emergency response planning, training, communications, property and evidence handling, use of force, vehicular pursuit, prisoner transportation and holding facilities.
The Massachusetts Police Accreditation Program consists of 257 mandatory standards as well as 125 optional standards. In order to achieve accreditation status, the Marion Police Department was required to meet all applicable mandatory standards as well as 55% of the optional standards.
Wicked Local
Gov. Charlie Baker signed a new police reform bill into law Dec. 31, enacting landmark changes to law enforcement training, oversight and best practices statewide.
“An Act Relative to Justice, Equity and Accountability in Law Enforcement in the Commonwealth” follows months of rallying, re-examination and debate surrounding policing in Massachusetts. The changes outlined in the new law, which impact police officers and departments throughout the state, will roll out over the coming months.
The bill sets standards for policies and training, use of force, response to protests and demonstrations, no-knock warrants, police misconduct, school resource officers and more.
In Maynard, Police Chief Michael Noble, said he supports most of the bill, at least in theory.
Springfield police leaders criticize reform bill: ‘Getting it done fast was more important than hearing from people’
Updated Jan 17, 2021;
Posted Jan 17, 2021
3/16/2020 -Springfield- Springfield police commissioner Cheryl Clapprood speaks during a meeting at City Hall. In the rear is is Mayor Domenic Sarno. (Don Treeger / The Republican)
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SPRINGFIELD Three weeks after the state enacted a major police reform bill, city police say they are left in an awkward position of waiting to find out exactly what reform will look like.
Springfield Commissioner Cheryl C. Clapprood and the heads of the department’s two unions each said this week that they welcome police reform in general. But they questioned how the law is being rolled out, and worried about a number of uncertainties not stipulated within the bill’s 129 pages.
GREAT BARRINGTON â Four decades of police work marked by strong leadership and a quiet but forceful personality comes to an end this week for town Police Chief William Walsh.
Walsh, 64, will officially retire Dec. 24, his birthday, since state law says public safety employees must not work beyond age 65. He signs off amid a flood of well-wishes and gratitude from town and state officials â including Gov. Charlie Baker.
Sgt. Paul Storti will take the helm as interim chief until a seven-member hiring committee chooses Walsh s replacement. Interviews for finalists in the search will be held Jan. 4 and Jan. 5, Town Manager Mark Pruhenski told the Select Board Monday.