An accreditation program has long been recognized as a means of maintaining the highest standards of professionalism. The accreditation process is a progressive and time proven management model. Accreditation provides a means for law enforcement agencies to systematically conduct an internal review and assessment of the agencies’ policies and procedures and an in-depth review of every aspect of the agency’s organization, management and operations.
The development of an accreditation program for law enforcement agencies in Rhode Island was seen as a way of providing the tools necessary for agencies to evaluate and improve their overall performance that is reasonable and cost effective. The Rhode Island Law Enforcement Accreditation Program was formally established through the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Associations in 2012 as a private non-profit organization and is overseen by the Rhode Island Police Accreditation Commission, RIPAC.
The RIPAC accreditation program is a department-initiated process by which police departments in Rhode Island voluntarily strive to meet and maintain standards that have been established for the police profession, by the police profession. Participation in the program is a signal to all of the citizens of Rhode Island that we are committed to professional standards, willing to be assessed by an Accreditation Commission and correct any deficiencies in order to re-establish compliance with the standards.
This Standards Manual is the cornerstone publication of the Rhode Island Police Accreditation Commission, RIPAC Law Enforcement Accreditation Program. The standards are dynamic, as they will be continually reviewed, updated, added to, or deleted as necessary to ensure compliance with contemporary standards and practices.
Other publications are under development that will outline the accreditation process, provide information on how to successfully negotiate the self-assessment phase, and outline the roles and responsibilities of accreditation assessors. Additional information on law enforcement accreditation will be made available through the web site for the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association.
Colonel Stephen M. McCartney
RIPAC Chairperson