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.

The department first received state certification in June 2014, full state accreditation in June 2015 and re-accreditation in 2018. Accreditation must be renewed every three years and, following this year's renewal, the department will be up for re-accreditation again in 2024.

"We are honored to have received full accreditation once again," Police Chief Richard Nighelli said. "Earning this notable designation for a third time shows our department's continued commitment to self-evaluation and improvement and demonstrates our dedication to the highest standards of policing. The Accreditation process is a team effort and is a testament to the hard work the men and women of this department put in everyday to provide the best possible services to our community."