Rosio police near accreditation; department wins Lexipol bronze recognition for training

Rosio police officials said Aug. 19 the department is in the final stages of a multi-year accreditation process and noted the department received a Lexipol bronze recognition for training standards. The chief and deputy chief described policy rewrites, facility changes and broad staff participation as part of the accreditation effort.

"It's a health check for continuous improvement," the chief said, describing accreditation as a standards-based review that includes mock assessments and an external assessment by professional peers. He said the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police (MACP) will assist and that the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) is the governing state body referenced in the discussion of standards.

Why it matters: accreditation and expanded training affect department liability, transparency and community trust, officials said. The chief told commissioners the department had rewritten policies (about 122 policies remain in place after revisions), reorganized evidence and records storage to meet standards and used grant funds for facility changes.

Training and recognition: department leaders said they have expanded recurring online and in-person training for sworn and civilian staff. The chief described Lexipol as a training and policy-delivery system and announced the department received a bronze-level recognition for its 2024 training program; the deputy chief and commissioners called the recognition a positive milestone. "We've never been recognized for our training," the chief said, adding that the award is meaningful for retention and professional development.

Accreditation timeline and workload: staff and the chief described a lengthy process typically taking at least two years and involving a mock assessment by other departments, followed by the formal assessment. Lieutenant Counts and others were credited with large time commitments to complete policy work. Commissioners expressed appreciation for staff efforts and urged continued progress.

Ending: Commission members said accreditation is not one-time; it requires ongoing maintenance. Officials said they expect to complete the process by early December or shortly thereafter if an extension is needed.