Police department receives accreditation
The Warren Police Department became the largest department in the state to earn accreditation from the Michigan Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission (MLEAC) at its September Accreditation Conference this week.
“Obtaining accreditation from the MLEAC has been a top priority for me since I returned to Warren as police commissioner,” Commissioner William Dwyer said Thursday in a statement.
“My goal is to have the Warren Police Department not only meet but exceed all best-case standards and practices,”
The accreditation process began more than a year ago and was led by Capt. William Reichling, head of the department’s Professional Standards Division. Over the months, 105 policies and procedures were updated to meet accreditation best-practice standards. The process also included a community feedback component as well as on-site auditing by MLEAC assessors.
Accreditation is meant to bolster public trust in the police, reduce the amount of police-related lawsuits, and allows the city to qualify for federal and state funding. In order to maintain accredited status, Warren police must undergo an annual review by the MLEAC which includes an onsite assessment every three years.
Robert Stevenson, executive director of Okemosbased Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police, the organization that oversees the accreditation process and a retired Livonia police chief, said the review process underscores how law enforcers must demonstrate they are continually taking steps to improve themselves to maintain their integrity.
“One of the major benefits of accreditation is that not only must the department have their policies and procedures in line with the Michigan and National best police practices, they must prove to outside assessors that they are in fact following them,” Stevenson said in an email.
Earlier this month, Warren police began using body cameras for the first time, which Dwyer previously said was an important component in receiving accreditation and in reducing litigation. Liability insurance for the City of Warren has increased sharply over the past couple of years, in part due to police-related lawsuits.
The Sterling Heights Police Department accreditation for its police department earlier this year. Other Macomb County police departments to receive the certification include Chesterfield Township and Roseville, according to the MLEAC.
“We owe it to the residents to provide the best possible service,” said Dwyer. “Following the wellestablished standards of MLEAC accreditation is yet another way in which the Warren Police Department strives to maintain its reputation for outstanding police service.”