The Houghton Police Department is committed to improving public safety and is now collecting community feedback as it pursues accreditation renewal through the Michigan Law Enforcement Accreditation Program.
The department requires officers to complete comprehensive training programs covering emergency response, mental health crisis intervention, use of force and firearm handling.
“Every three years, we have to get retrained on dealing with people in crisis, mental health crisis training,” said Kirk Mills, Corporal with the City of Houghton Police Department. “Every year we do training on ethics and as well as bias-based policing.”
Lieutenant Nick Roberts, one of the first trainers in the crisis intervention program, has instructed officers twice on the specialized training. The department’s commitment to ongoing professional development reflects evolving standards in law enforcement.
The Houghton Police Department earned accreditation most recently in 2023. Police departments achieve accreditation through the Michigan Law Enforcement Accreditation Program, operated by the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police. The program, created in 2016, provides structure to law enforcement approaches and reflects professional policing standards across Michigan.
During the accreditation renewal process, the Houghton Police Department is actively seeking public comment. Community members can provide feedback about the department’s performance, policies and practices.
Anyone interested in providing information for accreditation can email comments to the MACP, publiccomment@michiganpolicechiefs.org. Officials ask that emailed comments include the name of the agency within the subject line. Comments for the City of Houghton Police Department’s accreditation can also be submitted on July 31st when the assessment team arrives in the area.
The accreditation process demonstrates the department’s dedication to accountability and continuous improvement. By soliciting public input, the police department acknowledges the importance of community trust and transparency in law enforcement.
For details on how to submit comments for the accreditation process, visit the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police website online.
