Middletown Police Accreditation Manager Jean Young is named the "Rhode Island Accreditation Manager Of The Year" recently for her work on the department's behalf. Thanks to Young -- and the rest of the Middletown force -- for your efforts. #MiddletownRI
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Matt Sheley at (401) 842-6543 or msheley@middletownri.com
MIDDLETOWN POLICE OFFICER RECOGNIZED
FOR OUTSTANDING WORK
MIDDLETOWN, R.I. (MARCH 10, 2023) – One of Middletown’s finest has been honored for her work with the re-accreditation of the Police Department.
During a recent ceremony held at the Smithfield Police Station by the Rhode Island Police Accreditation Commission (RIPAC), Middletown Police Accreditation Manager Jean Young was named the “Rhode Island Accreditation Manager of the Year.”
Young, a 12-year veteran of the Middletown police force, including the last eight as Accreditation Manager, was thankful for the recognition.
“Honestly, it was unexpected, but much appreciated,” Young said. “Not many police officers want to take on the role and responsibilities associated with accreditation. Accreditation is not glamorous; it’s not patrol or investigations; there are not many opportunities for recognition in this job role. So, yes, it’s nice to be recognized for the work I put into the accreditation process for the agency.”
Accreditation is an involved process where an outside agency comes in and takes an independent, third-party look at every aspect of the Middletown Police Department.
The department was re-accredited by the national Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) in July 2021, earning high marks across the board. Young’s job was to lead that effort, among other duties with the department.
“Accreditation paves the way for agencies to operate and maintain the best practices and principles of modern-day policing,” Young said. “I see accreditation as a constantly evolving blueprint that guides the agency towards making appropriate changes to training and policies for the better. As society changes, policing also must change; that’s why accreditation is important.”
Police Chief Anthony M. Pesare agreed, applauding Young — and the rest of the department — for their efforts.
“Jean’s work has brought her acclaim from the Police Chief’s Association as well from other departments throughout Rhode Island who rely on her expertise and knowledge of the best practices for police departments,” Pesare said. “To improve our police departments and others is a true service to the community.”
Pesare said independent reviews of the police force done by CALEA and RIPAC were critical.
“We take this seriously because it ensures that the services we deliver to our community are based on nationally accepted standards of policing,” Pesare said. “Because accreditation is an ongoing process which puts us in a position to adopt the latest standards and practices of modern policing.”
Young agreed, saying such work should promote even more confidence in the Middletown Police Department.
“We are continuously updating our training, technology, and policies as new standards of practice are released,” Young said. “The Middletown Police Department maintains two accreditation certifications; CALEA Advanced Law Enforcement Accreditation and State of Rhode Island RIPAC Accreditation.”
Document Link: https://www.middletownri.com/DocumentCenter/View/7835/NYCU-Young
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