L-R: Acushnet Poiice sergeant Jeremy Fontes, Selectboard member Kevin Gaspar, SB chairperson David Desroches, Acushnet police chief Christopher Richmond, Acushnet police officers Jason White and Ryan Hemphill, and SB member David Wojnar, recognize the Acushnet Police Department for receiving a certificate of certification from the Massachusetts Police Association Commission, at the SB meeting on 4/26/22. Photo by Paula Charbonneau for the Fairhaven Neighborhood News.
By Paula Charbonneau, Neighb News Correspondent
At its meeting on 4/26/22, the Acushnet Select Board formally recognized The Acushnet Police Department for achieving a goal 12 years in the making. The Massachusetts Police Association Commission Inc awarded the department with a Certificate of Certification bringing them one step closer to full accreditation.
According to Acushnet Police Chief Christopher R. Richmond the distinction is held by only 25 percent of all law enforcement agencies in Massachusetts. He said expects the department to become fully accredited in about a year.
Chief Richmond gave credit to his whole department for the accomplishment. He also recognized that Officer Jason White volunteered to work on the certification to accreditation process.
“Officer White accomplished in two years dedicating one day a week when other departments had full time staff finishing it in a year and a half,” Chief Richmond said.
Along with Police Officer White, Police Sergeant Jeremy Fontes and Police Officer Ryan Hemphill were also credited with crawling through years of hard copy files, some in ring binders, to sort and bring the files up to 21st century standards.
Chief Richmond said there were tangible and intangible reasons for needing the accreditation.
“The first tangible benefit, and it is relatively small when you think about it, is we are entitled to a $625.00 credit from MIIA the town’s insurer,” said the Chief.
He said the intangible included reduction of liability and risk to the town and that, “It also makes for a more professional department based on sound policy, when we are able to document and show what we do.”
He added that the adopted policies and procedures and the network of documentation will assist the department in keeping up with the ever changing landscape of policing.
“I will finish up with police reform,” said Chief Richmond. “This is the smartest thing the town could be doing to make sure we are staying in compliance with a lot of the regulations that have been promulgated and what will come in regards to that legislation.”
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