The Oak Bluffs police department has received state certification from the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission.

To achieve accreditation, which is voluntary, police departments must meet and maintain 159 standards. The process includes a self-assessment followed by an external peer review. According to a press release from the commission, the certification enhances the reputation of a police department, promotes accountability, builds a stronger defense against lawsuits, and provides a norm with which a force can judge its performance.

Oak Bluffs police chief Erik Blake appointed Lieut. Timothy Williamson to serve as the Oak Bluffs department’s accreditation manager. “Achieving certification from the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission is considered a very significant accomplishment and is a recognition that is highly regarded by the law enforcement community,” Donna Taylor Mooers, the commission’s executive director, said in the press release.

The accreditation lasts for three years.