The Michigan Department of Attorney
General’s Criminal Investigations Division (CID) has been granted accreditation
by the Michigan Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission (MLEAC) on Tuesday,
Attorney General Dana Nessel announced.
Twelve law enforcement agencies in total earned the MLEAC Accreditation following a hearing hosted during the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police (MACP) annual professional development conference. Prior to today, only 65 of Michigan's 580 law enforcement agencies have achieved accreditation.
“The MLEAC accreditation represents the gold standard for law enforcement agencies in Michigan and I am immeasurably proud of the work my Department undertook to receive this certification,” Nessel said. “This achievement demonstrates our steadfast dedication to the highest levels of professionalism and excellence in law enforcement. It is also the result of a unified effort put forth by each member of my Criminal Investigations Division. I have no doubt that this accreditation will enhance our capacity to protect and serve Michigan's residents in the most effective way possible.”
The law enforcement accreditation process was developed by the MACP and later joined by the Michigan Sheriffs' Association (MSA) to establish a voluntary statewide law enforcement standards program for Michigan. The MLEAC, which consists of commissioners from law enforcement and other professions, oversees the accreditation process with support services provided by the MACP.
MLEAC accreditation aids law enforcement agencies in evaluating and enhancing their overall level of service performance. The foundation of MLEAC
accreditation lies in the voluntary adoption of standards that ensure the achievement of professional objectives. The accreditation process the Department successfully completed consisted of a thorough self-analysis in which the department conducted a thorough review of its written directives then identified existing operations and adopted additional procedures to align with the accreditation standards and its professional objectives.
In November, a team of assessors from the Michigan Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission arrived to examine all aspects of the Department’s Criminal Investigations Division policies and procedures, management, operations, and support services. The assessors verified the Department’s successful implementation of the 108 applicable standards set by the MLEAC to ensure compliance. These standards include areas such as use of force, special investigations, training, internal affairs, communications, and personnel selection.
“Achieving accreditation is a significant professional accomplishment. Across Michigan municipal, county, college/university, tribal, and state law enforcement agencies are voluntarily working towards their goal of earning and maintaining accreditation. To date approximately 70% of municipal police officers across the state are impacted by the professional standards found in the accreditation program,” said Chief Ron Wiles, deputy director of MACP.
Chief Bob Stevenson, executive director for MACP added, “I applaud the attorney general for her leadership in becoming the first state agency accredited.”
According to the MACP and MSA’s
literature, the Michigan Law Enforcement Accreditation Program enhances the
professionalism of police organizations in the state, emphasizing the
importance of comprehensive, obtainable, and standards-based law enforcement
practices.
The Department’s work in this process was led by Supervisory Special Agent Sam Miller and Division Chief Aubrey Sargent. The process took nearly two years in which they:
• Successfully developed and implemented more than 54 written directives, policies, and procedures to guide the work of the Criminal Investigations Division based on accreditation standards.
• Developed and implemented more than 19 training programs and certifications that incorporate best practices within law enforcement.
• Presented all 54 of these policies to the Department's Professional Responsibility, Education, and Policy Board, a multi-disciplinary team of experts within the Department of Attorney General who are tasked with contributing recommendations on training and policy matters.
• Invested in infrastructure enhancements, advanced security measures, and a property management system to further protect the integrity of evidence and property related to criminal investigations.
• Emphasized a focus on community engagement activities to foster positive relationships through volunteer opportunities aimed at giving back to the community and making a positive impact.
These activities underscore the Department's commitment to not only upholding the law but also actively contributing to the well-being and betterment of the communities it serves.
“The attorney general is designated as the top law enforcement official in the state, and therefore the Criminal Investigations Division is also looked upon as a lead and model agency,” said Sargent. “In that role, it was important for us to follow best practices, which accreditation provides and to set an example to other agencies. Our goal is for our Criminal Investigations Division to be transparent, and community based, and to continually grow and improve.”
Accreditation is valid for a three-year period during which time the agency must submit annual reports attesting to its continued compliance with the standards under which it was initially accredited.
Eleven other agencies received their initial accreditation Tuesday. They include Brighton Police Department, Brownstown Police Department, Grand Rapids Community College Police Department, Huron Township Police Department, Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office, Lansing Police Department, Lathrup Village Police Department, Manistee Police Department, Sturgis Department of Public Service, Troy Police Department, and Wixom Police Department.
Additionally, ten agencies renewed their accreditation. They are Bay City Department of Public Services, Kalamazoo Department of Public Services, Muskegon Police Department, Northville Township Police Department, Novi Police Department, Port Huron Police Department, Portage Department of Public Safety, Roseville Police Department, Western Michigan University Police Department and Zeeland Police Department.
Information about the accreditation process, and accredited agencies can be found on the Michigan Association of Police Chief's website at www.michiganpolicechiefs.org.
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