University Police Department to Undergo Accreditation Process
JONESBORO — A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA®), will examine all aspects of the Arkansas State University Police Department’s policy and procedures, management, operations and support services beginning Monday, March 21.
“Verification by the team that the A-State Police Department meets the commission’s state-of-the-art standards is part of a voluntary process to remain accredited,” said Chief Randy Martin. “Accreditation is a highly prized recognition of public safety professional excellence.”
The University Police Department (UPD) has to comply with 161 standards in order to gain accredited status, Chief Martin continued.
As part of the assessment, members of the community are invited to offer comments at a public information session by calling (870) 972-2228 on Monday, March 21, beginning at 3 p.m. Comments will be taken by the Assessment Team.
Members of the community can also provide comments during a public hearing via Zoom, also Monday, March 21, at 4:30 p.m. Registration will be required for the Zoom meetings. To register, email Capt. Jarrod Long at jlong@AState.edu.
Persons wishing to offer written comments about UPD’s ability to meet the standards for accreditation are asked to write: Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA®), P.O. Box 424064, Washington D.C. 20042.
Telephone comments as well as appearances at the public information session are limited to 10 minutes and must address the agency’s ability to comply with CALEA standards. A copy of the standards is available at the University Police Department by calling Capt. Long at (870) 972-2093.
Accreditation is for four years, during which the agency must submit annual reports attesting continued compliance with those standards under which it was initially accredited.
For more information regarding the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., write the Commission at P.O. Box 424064, Washington D.C. 20042, calea@calea.org, or call (703) 352-4225.
