Police Department Accreditation Initiative

About RIPAC

The East Greenwich Police Department has been engaged in the Rhode Island Accreditation process for several years and is about to reach the final stages of this comprehensive process with the goal of securing Accreditation status in 2023. There have been numerous administrative and command staff members leading this effort with the support and commitment of the entire department. The Department is striving to achieve this Department-wide honor and in doing so, also seek compliance with the highest of law enforcement standards as established by the RIPAC Commission.

An accreditation program has long been recognized as a means of maintaining the highest standards of professionalism. The accreditation process is a progressive and time proven management model. Accreditation provides a means for law enforcement agencies to systematically conduct an internal review and assessment of the agencies’ policies and procedures and an in-depth review of every aspect of the agency’s organization, management and operations.

The development of an accreditation program for law enforcement agencies in Rhode Island was seen as a way of providing the tools necessary for agencies to evaluate and improve their overall performance that is reasonable and cost effective. The Rhode Island Law Enforcement Accreditation Program was formally established through the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Associations in 2012 as a private non-profit organization and is overseen by the Rhode Island Police Accreditation Commission, RIPAC.

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 we are 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.

This Standards Manual is the cornerstone publication of the Rhode Island Police Accreditation Commission, RIPAC Law Enforcement Accreditation Program. The standards are dynamic, as they will be continually reviewed, updated, added to, or deleted as necessary to ensure compliance with contemporary standards and practices.

Other publications are under development that will outline the accreditation process, provide information on how to successfully negotiate the self-assessment phase, and outline the roles and responsibilities of accreditation assessors. Additional information on law enforcement accreditation will be made available through the web site for the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association.

Colonel Stephen M. McCartney
RIPAC Chairperson

Achieving Accreditation Upon Certification
Agencies are not required to achieve Accreditation upon Certification. They may be re-certified or pursue Accreditation. Agencies electing to pursue Accreditation upon Certification may request an assessment when they are ready for one; it is not necessary for the agency to wait until its next scheduled assessment.

If an agency’s assessment for initial Accreditation occurs within twelve months of its assessment for Certification, only the additional mandatory and optional standards for Accreditation will be reviewed, and the assessment will be conducted in two days, by two assessors. If the agency’s assessment for initial Accreditation goes beyond the twelfth month, all standards for Accreditation will be reviewed and the assessment will be conducted in three days, by three assessors.

Time Limits for achieving initial Certification or Accreditation
There are no time limits or constraints imposed upon agencies by the Commission for achieving initial Certification or Accreditation. Upon achieving Certification or Accreditation, however, agencies voluntarily begin a three-year cycle to be re-assessed by the Commission to maintain their certification or accreditation status.

RIPAC Commission
The Commission appointed by the Board is comprised of twelve (12) members each of whom serve a term of three (3) years. The members of the Commissionare appointed as follows:

Six (6) members from the Rhode Island Police Chief’s Association, (Police chiefs, life members, federal agents);
One (1) member recommended by the International Brotherhood of Police Officers;
One (1) member recommended by the Fraternal Order of Police;
One (1) member recommended by the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns;
One (1) member of academia from a college or university that offers a Criminal Justice Program; and
One (1) member recommended by the Rhode Police Accreditation Coalition.
One (1) member of the Rhode Island State Police recommended by the Superintendent.”
RIPCA Commissioners
Chief Richard St.Sauveur – Smithfield Police Department

Colonel Rick Rathbun (Ret) – Warwick Police Department

Chief Tina Gongalves – Pawtucket Police Department

Chief Scott Raynes – Little Compton Police Department

Chief James Mendonca – Rhode Island College Director of Security and Safety​ Chief of Campus Police

Chief Elwood Johnson – Richmond Police Department

IBPO Commissioner
Lieutenant Paul Saccocia (Ret) – Cranston Police Department

FOP Commissioner
Commander Thomas Verdi – Providence Police Department

League of Cities and Towns Commissioner
Michael Wood – Town Manager, Town of Burrillville

Academia Commissioner
Dr. Stephanie Manzi – Roger Williams University

RI Police Accreditation Coalition Commissioner
Captain Matthew Benson – Johnston Police Department

Rhode Island State Police Commissioner
Major Laurie Ludovici

Accreditation Ceremony: March 13, 2024 at Rhode Island College

Accepting the Certification were Police Chief, Colonel Stephen Brown, Deputy Chief, Major Robert Siple, and Captain Brian Clement. Also in attendance representing the community were Council President Mark Schwager, Councilor Renu Englehart and Town Manager Andy Nota.