On Oct. 31, an article from Brandeis Stories announced that the Brandeis University Police has  earned certification status from the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission. According to MPAC’s website, accreditation from them is a “self-inidiated process by which police agencies voluntarily strive to meet and maintain standards that have been established for the law enforcement profession by the profession.” 

MCAP’s program overview lists the mandatory 178 standards for accreditation by their organization. These “standards” represent basic facets of a police organization ranging from use of force, organization and administration, conduct and discipline, training and more. According to the Brandeis Stories article, the certification is the cumulation of a three-year effort to examine and strengthen the Brandeis Police and its policies.

This certification, which will cost the Brandeis Police approximately $3,220 per fiscal year, has an assortment of benefits as listed on the MCAP website. These include: enhancing the agency’s reputation, requiring agencies to commit policies and procedures into written directives, promoting accountability and providing a means of independent evaluation. In short, the main benefit of MCAP certification is having a widely-recognized professional credential that demonstrates excellence in the field of law enforcement. 

MCAP grants certification status exclusively for three year periods. When that period expires, the department will be subject to re-evaluation by MCAP to ensure that their standards continue to be upheld by the Brandeis Police Department.