DANVERS — A trio of police administrators will head off to Florida today to learn if the department will remain accredited.
The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies in Boca Raton, Fla., will host a number of departments from the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean islands at a five-day conference that will culminate on Saturday.
"This is required every three years," police Chief Neil Ouellette said. "On Saturday morning, we go before the commission and they have the opportunity to examine everything and ask questions. They take a vote at the banquet and decide whether or not to accredit us."
The commission will determine accreditation based on a report written by a team of assessors from the commission who visited the department for four days in April.
Ouellette, Capt. Ed Plamowski and Lt. Dana Milne will represent the department at the commission.
"There's no guarantee we're going to be reaccredited ... but I see no problem at all," the chief said based on a copy of the assessors' 20-page report.
Milne, who serves as the department's accreditation officer, said the assessors looked at the administration of the departments, operations, record keeping and procedures.
After reading the report, one area Milne took note of was the department's use of its resources.
"We do quite a bit with minimal staffing and resources. (The assessors) noted how efficient we are and how well we use our resources," Milne said.
Since 1986, when Chris Bouras was chief, Danvers police have been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.
The Danvers police were the first municipal department in the state to be accredited. Today, Danvers shares the same status with the Newton, Barnstable, MBTA and Boston Housing Authority police.
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