KNOXVILLE — The University of Tennessee Police Department (UTPD) is now one of 23 agencies to be granted accreditation by IACLEA, the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators.
IACLEA accreditation means that a department conforms to the highest professional standards for campus law enforcement and protective services. IACLEA examined how UTPD met specific requirements related to complying with the Clery Act, which calls for all colleges and universities that participate in federal financial aid programs to keep and disclose information about crime on and near their respective campuses.
In summer 2009 UTPD became one of 47 university/college agencies to be accredited by CALEA, the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies. There are currently only 15 agencies nationwide accredited by both IACLEA and CALEA, and UTPD is the only campus law enforcement agency in Tennessee to have both accreditations.
“The University of Tennessee Police Department is committed to obtaining and maintaining a professionally accredited police department,” said Interim Chief Debbie Perry. “The review of policies and procedures through the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators reaffirms our commitment to providing the best possible service to the University of Tennessee community. This accreditation is the second award to the department within six months.”
In addition to providing information on crimes that occur on or near campus, the areas addressed by IACLEA included timely notifications about ongoing criminal concerns and access to reports or media information on criminal incidents.
IACLEA also examined how UTPD notifies community members in the event of emergencies, the usage of the emergency blue phones and other methods of providing notifications.
Other areas addressed included procedures for handling missing person reports, usage of non-commissioned security staff, documentation of compliance standards, policies for responding to alarms, procedures for periodic checks of alarm functions and requirements for evaluations of alarm needs.
While IACLEA required UTPD to meet many of the same standards as CALEA, IACLEA’s focus is more on campus law enforcement. The IACLEA accreditation allows UTPD to compare its policies and procedures to other universities across the country.
C O N T A C T :
Kristi Hintz, (865-974-3993, khintz@utk.edu)
Keith Lambert, (865-974-6631, klambert@utk.edu)