The University of Chicago Police Department received Advanced Law Enforcement Accreditation recognition from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, making it the first private university police department in the Midwest to meet the commission’s stringent law enforcement standards.
The UCPD was formally recognized for becoming an accredited law enforcement agency at the commission's conference awards ceremony on Saturday, July 26.
"Standardization in hiring, training, policy and procedures, as promoted under CALEA Standards, has provided a proven path for the University of Chicago Police Department to follow in becoming a better trained and more professional organization," said Marlon C. Lynch, associate vice president for safety, security, and civic affairs and chief of police.
"Achieving this accreditation is recognition that our police department aspires to provide the highest quality services to our community. It could not have been accomplished without the dedication of the members of our police department and the support of the communities that we serve," said Lynch.
In April, CALEA assessors were on campus to examine and audit all aspects of the department’s policies and procedures, management, operations and support services. They reviewed written materials, interviewed personnel, conducted public and telephone comment sessions as well as a facility inspection. The final report stated: “the assessment team found the agency to be a progressive and motivated police department with a genuine devotion to the diverse community that they serve. The rapid and impressive transformation into a full-service police department necessary to pursue the commitment to law enforcement accreditation is demonstrative of an agency with excellent leadership and competent supervision.”
The commission’s report also noted that UCPD’s Jan. 1, 2013, transition to a full-service police department, while achieving compliance with the applicable standards, is a remarkable accomplishment to make before an onsite assessment by CALEA.
Accreditation is for three years, during which time the department must submit annual reports documenting continued compliance with standards. For more information about CALEA, visit calea.org.
—Prof. Jacqueline Stewart
