Newburyport Police Department Re-Accredited by Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission

NEWBURYPORT — City Marshal Matthew Simons is pleased to share that the Newburyport Police Department has been awarded re-accreditation by the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission (MPAC).

The department received the distinction during MPAC’s meeting on June 11 in Marlborough. The department was first accredited in 2003, and this award marks the 8th time Newburyport Police has received re-accreditation.  

Accreditation is a self-initiated, lengthy, and comprehensive evaluation process that Newburyport Police completed in February 2026. This year’s accreditation was initiated by Accreditation Manager Lt. Gregory Whitney and Assistant Accreditation Manager Sgt. John Gavin.

Participating departments complete an internal self-review and an external assessment by MPAC experts. The process is a voluntary evaluation by which police departments strive to meet and maintain the top standards of law enforcement. It is considered the best measure for a police department to compare itself against the established best practices around the country and region.

Accreditation is valid for three years and requires agencies to undergo reassessment to maintain their status. Re-accreditation follows a comprehensive on-site assessment conducted by a team of MPAC assessors, who reviewed more than 365 standards.

The Massachusetts Police Accreditation Program consists of 257 mandatory standards as well as 125 optional standards. In order to achieve accreditation status, the department was required to meet all applicable mandatory standards as well as 60% of the optional standards.

These carefully selected standards reflect critical areas of police management, operations and technical support activities. They cover areas such as Jurisdiction and Mutual Aid, Collection and Preservation of Evidence, Communications, Working Conditions, Crime Analysis, Community Involvement, Financial Management, Internal Affairs, Juvenile Operations, Patrol Administration, Public Information, Records, Training, Traffic, Drug Enforcement and Victim/Witness Assistance.

“Accreditation is one of the tools for law enforcement agencies that shows their commitment to excellence and accountability,” said Marshal Simons. “For officers and staff, it reinforces a culture of professionalism and preparedness, and for communities, it provides a confidence that we are dedicated to the highest level of service. I want to thank Lt. Whitney and Sgt. Gavin for their commitment and diligence in ensuring the Newburyport Police Department maintains the highest standards of policing.”

MPAC-accredited agencies are required to maintain continuous compliance with established standards and adapt to evolving laws, policies and best practices.

The Newburyport Police Department is one of 121 accredited agencies among the 259 police departments in the MPAC accreditation and certification program.

###