Danvers Police Department
Chief Neil F. Ouellette
120 Ash Street
Danvers, MA 01923

For Immediate Release
Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2014

Contact: Sergeant Olivia Silva, PIO
Office: 978-774-1213 ext. 134
Email: osilva@mail.danvers-ma.org

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Danvers Police Department Receives National Accreditation for 28th Consecutive Year

Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Recognizes Danvers As One of Three Municipal Police Departments in Massachusetts to Achieve National Accreditation

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Danvers Police Chief Neil F. Ouellette is proud to announce that the Danvers Police Department has been awarded national accreditation for the 28th consecutive year.

Danvers was the first and is the longest standing police department in Massachusetts to achieve such high levels of national law enforcement standards. Chief Ouellette, Captain Patrick Ambrose, and Lieutenant James Lovell accepted the “Meritorious Law Enforcement Accreditation” awarded at the conference of the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), on Saturday, November 22, 2014, in Albuquerque. This is the ninth consecutive time that the Danvers Police Department received CALEA accreditation, which is awarded every thee years.

The Danvers Police Department was the first municipal agency in Massachusetts, when it was accredited in November of 1986, under Chief Christ Bouras, while Retired Chief Richard Landers organized the process, when he was a Sergeant and the Accreditation Manager.

Currently Danvers is one of three municipal agencies in Massachusetts with national CALEA Accreditation, along with the MBTA Transit Police Department and the Boston University Police Department. Fall River and Newton are the other two municipal agencies.

Police accreditation is a 100 percent voluntary undertaking. By going through the process, a police department invites an independent outside review to ensure the department has the most up to date policies, procedures, and training. This ensures that a department uses the best practices for law enforcement to deliver exceptional services to its residents, businesses, and visitors.

Nationally accredited agencies must maintain compliance with CALEA’s 317 mandatory policing standards and at least 80 optional standards for a medium sized agency (determined by the number of sworn officers). The Danvers Police Department was deemed to be in compliance with all 317 mandatory and 88 of the optional standards.

“The real credit for this accomplishment goes to the men and women of the Department,” Chief Ouellette said. “They are the best walking and taking proof of compliance to CALEA’s standards, by what they do on a daily basis to serve the citizens of our community, and how they do it. I am extremely proud to oversee a Police Department that is in-line with the best practices of law enforcement in the country.”

The 2014 process was more advanced than ever. Accreditation Manager Lieutenant James Lovell, spearheaded the process and was able to complete the first paperless re-accreditation utilizing Power DMS, a document management system. Captain Patrick Ambrose oversaw the process and both were assisted by the entire Command Staff, Elaine Russo Executive Assistant, Sarah Slavin Crime Analyst, Carol Lang and Lynne Horn records clerks. Dispatch Supervisor Richard Beaulieu assisted the process for those standards relating to his section,  which is currently in the self-assessment process for Calea’s Communications Accreditation for Law Enforcement program. This initiative has been funded by the State 911 Board’s annual training grant.

CALEA conducted an on-site assessment in June, when two representatives spent four days in Danvers. They reviewed files, interacted with employees, spoke to citizens, and rode-along with officers on patrol.  The assessment team was especially impressed with the number of programs the department delivers to the community for its size, and its collaboration with the school department, Danvers Cares, and our citizens and businesses.

“By continuing to raise the bar, the Danvers Police Department stands out as a model of excellence in Massachusetts and nationwide,” said Diane Norris, Danvers Interim Town Manager. “I applaud the efforts of our police department and Chief Ouellette to ensure the highest level of service to the people of Danvers each and every day.”

The department is also Accredited by the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Coalition (MPAC) and will be going through MPAC re-assessment in the coming months. Both processes require assessments every three years to maintain compliance. As an added benefit of accreditation, The Town of Danvers is able to receive a premium discount from the Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association, which is the town’s liability insurance carrier.

About the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies
The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., (CALEA) was created in 1979 as a credentialing authority through the joint efforts of law enforcement’s major executive associations: The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP); National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE); National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA); and the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF). The purpose of CALEA’s Accreditation Programs is to improve the delivery of public safety services, primarily by: maintaining a body of standards, developed by public safety practitioners, covering a wide range of up-to-date public safety initiatives; establishing and administering an accreditation process; and recognizing professional excellence. For more information, visit https://www.calea.org/content/commission

###