SEYMOUR – The Seymour Police Department has earned full state accreditation from the Connecticut Police Officer Standards and Training Council (POSTC).

That means the department’s policies – from how officers process evidence to how often cell blocks are checked – has been vetted by an outside agency.

“As part of the police accountability act (passed in 2020) all police departments are mandated to complete accreditation,” said Richard Green, a spokesman for the state Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection. “Completing all three tiers (of the accreditation process) means that you are meeting best practices and industry standards. As part of that, municipal police departments must also prove they are compliant with their own policies. In other words, they must prove they are doing what they say they are doing.”

There are 95 municipal police departments in Connecticut. Seymour is one of 51 departments who have successfully completed all three tiers of the accreditation process, according to information provided by Green. 

Other departments sharing that designation with Seymour include Bridgeport, Cheshire, Naugatuck, Orange, Wallingford, West Haven and Woodbridge.  

The accreditation process, according to the POST Council, consists of 322 standards achievable in three successive tiers. 

Seymour police began its compliance review when John Bucherati was named chief in January 2022.    

Bucherati credited Deputy Chief Michael Fappiano and Sgt. Kristopher Marra for their efforts to receive accreditation.

“We went through every policy and procedure we have here and made sure they were compliant,” Bucherati said. “It took a lot of manpower, and it was very labor intensive.”

Bucherati said the department had some old policies that needed updating. He also said new policies had to be written for body cameras, which were mandated under the police accountability bill.

“Deputy Chief Fappiano did a ton of work, and I couldn’t have done this without him,” Bucherati said. “It’s a significant accomplishment and it was a complete team effort to get it done. Having this accreditation means that you have a modern police department that is up to date and following the best practices and standards. It also reduces our overall liability and means we are holding our officers to high standards.”

Police departments have until December 2026 to attain full state accreditation.

Bucherati, along with Fappiano, Marra and Inspector Joe Matusovich, were recognized at a Sept. 11 meeting of the POST Council in Hartford for earning full state accreditation.

POST Council chairman and Milford Police Chief Keith Mello was not available for comment, but in his award letter to Bucherati commended the department for its work.

“We commend you and all members of the Seymour Police Department for demonstrating a commitment to professional and general management standards in policy and practice,” Mellow wrote. “Thank you for your continued support in enhancing Connecticut law enforcement.”

The Valley Indy reached out to Seymour Board of Police Commission Chairman David Bitso for comment but did not hear back by deadline.