The Pawtucket Police Department is proud to announce that it has recently earned accreditation from the Rhode Island Police Accreditation Commission (RIPAC).

To be awarded accreditation is the formal recognition that an agency has met specific requirements and prescribed industry best practices. To achieve accredited status assures both municipal leaders and citizens that their police department is operating in a manner that reflects current best practices for law enforcement. The standards are dynamic, as they are continually reviewed, updated, added to, or deleted as necessary to ensure compliance with contemporary standards and practices.

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 the department is 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.

“The process in which any department earns accreditation is rigorous and difficult,” said Pawtucket Police Chief Paul King. “I am proud to lead a department that holds itself to the high standards set by RIPAC,” continued King.

Public Safety Director Antonio Pires was also pleased to hear of the accreditation. “I am very proud of the men and women of the Pawtucket Police Department who have worked so hard to earn accreditation,” stated Pires. “I thank them for continuing to strive to provide the best service possible to the residents of Pawtucket that they are sworn to protect.” 

“I am very proud of the great strides our Police Department has made,” said Pawtucket Mayor Donald R. Grebien.  “We already know how dedicated our police department is when it comes to serving the members of the Pawtucket community but it is validating to have that reaffirmed by an outside agency,” stated the Mayor.

The Mayor will be accepting the official accreditation on Wednesday, July 6th at 6:40 PM in front of the Pawtucket City Council in the Council Chambers at City Hall.