Accreditation
The Woonsocket Police Department continually strives to improve its policies and procedures. The Accreditation program has as its main goal to improve the delivery of law enforcement services to the community. Therefore, the Department has pursued and achieved accredited status with the Rhode Island Police Accreditation Commission (RIPAC).
Much like the accreditation processes found in universities, hospitals and other professional organizations, law enforcement accreditation proves compliance with a set of professional standards. Accreditation serves to distinguish the Department as having met professional standards of conduct and service.
Standards address the following areas of law enforcement:
- Management;
- Law Enforcement Role & Authority;
- Work Conditions & Benefits;
- Recruitment & Selection;
- Professional Standards;
- Training;
- Patrol;
- Investigations;
- Juvenile Operations;
- Homeland Security & Incident Command;
- Traffic;
- Prisoner Transportation, Processing & Detention;
- Communications;
- Records; and
- Evidence & Property Control.
Some of the benefits include:
- Recognition of professional excellence;
- Community understanding and support;
- Pro-active management systems, polices, and procedures documented;
- Liability litigation is reduced;
- Enhances the morale of department personnel;
- Adherence to law enforcement standards reinforces public confidence; and
- Accreditation makes a statement that the Woonsocket Police Department meets the highest level of standards and professionalism.
The Woonsocket Police Department was initially accredited by RIPAC in March 2017 and earned re-accreditation in 2020. Accreditation is subject to reaccreditation every three years.
