Project Grant 15JCOPS23GG02077PPSE

THE GROSSE ILE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS CHOSEN TO EMBARK ON THE PROCESS OF STATE ACCREDITATION UTILIZING THE MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE (MACP). THIS DECISION WAS MADE BY OUR CHIEF OF POLICE, DOUGLAS CARMACK, AS WELL AS OUR TOWNSHIP LEADERSHIP, AFTER CAREFUL CONSIDERATION OF THE MANY POSITIVE EFFECTS THAT ACCREDITATION BRINGS TO A POLICE AGENCY. THESE BENEFITS INCLUDE ENHANCED EFFICIENCY AND PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT BY DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL, INCREASED SAFETY FOR BOTH THE OFFICERS AND THE PUBLIC THEY SERVE, AND REDUCED RISK OF CIVIL LIABILITY RESULTING FROM DEFICIENT OR SUBSTANDARD PROCEDURES OR ACTIONS. THE MACP ACCREDITATION PROGRAM HAS BEEN DEVELOPED IN COORDINATION WITH MICHIGAN LAW-ENFORCEMENT ACCREDITATION COMMISSION (MLEAC) AND IS AN AUTHORIZED ACCREDITATION PROGRAM WITH THE STATE OF MICHIGAN. IT IS THE DESIRE OF OUR DEPARTMENT AND TOWNSHIP LEADERSHIP TO BRING OUR AGENCY INTO ALIGNMENT WITH FEDERAL AND STATE RECOGNIZED BEST PRACTICES. BY OPERATING WITH ESTABLISHED AND RESEARCHED BEST PRACTICES, OUR AGENCY WILL BE ABLE TO AVOID NEGATIVE INCIDENTS AND THE LOSS OF PUBLIC TRUST THAT ACCOMPANIES THEM, WHICH IN TURN MAINTAINS TRUST BETWEEN OUR AGENCY AND THOSE WHO RELY UPON OUR SERVICES FOR THEIR SAFETY AND SECURITY. BY VOLUNTARILY UNDERTAKING THE ACCREDITATION PROGRAM, OUR DEPARTMENT IS MAKING A CLEAR AND PUBLIC DECLARATION THAT WE VALUE PROFESSIONALISM AND STRIVE TO OPERATE AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF EFFICIENCY AND CONDUCT AND THAT WE VALUE THE PROPER AND EQUITABLE ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAW. AS A SMALL POLICE AGENCY, OUR BUDGET DOES NOT ALLOW FOR THE ABSORPTION OF MANY OF THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS AND NECESSITIES OF THE ACCREDITATION PROCESS, WHICH INCLUDES ITEMS SUCH AS EMPLOYEE WORK HOURS DEDICATED TO THE PROCESS, THE COMPUTER AND TECHNOLOGY NEEDS OF THOSE PARTICIPATING IN THE PROCESS, AND THE EQUIPMENT NECESSARY TO MEET THE STRINGENT STANDARDS SET FORTH IN THE ACCREDITATION GUIDELINES. THIS GRANT WILL ALLOW US TO FUND THOSE CRUCIAL ITEMS AND TO SUCCESSFULLY ACHIEVE THE GOAL OF STATE ACCREDITATION.