Skip to content Skip to main navigation Report an accessibility issue

Community Invited to Public Forum for UTPD Reaccreditation

The University of Tennessee Police Department is preparing for its fourth reaccreditation review and is asking the campus and surrounding community for input.

Representatives from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), who are evaluating the department, will hold a public forum from 1-4 p.m. on Monday, April 4 via Zoom.

Students, faculty and staff, as well as the greater Knoxville community are invited to  attend and offer comments. The CALEA team will be assessing policies, procedures, management, operations, and support services.

“Our department has worked diligently to maintain the high standards of CALEA accreditation. On our fourth reaccreditation assessment, we are hopeful that the evaluators continue to find UTPD a model agency in terms of professionalism, integrity, and accountability,” UTPD Chief Troy Lane said.

University employees, students, and the general public are also invited to offer comments by calling 865-946-0865 from 1-3 p.m. on Tuesday, April 5. Comments will be taken by the assessment team on a non-recorded line.

Telephone comments and appearances at the public information session are limited to 10 minutes and should address UTPD’s ability to comply with CALEA’s standards. These general areas of focus include the department’s ability to prevent and respond to crime, deliver services, build rapport with the campus community, cooperate with other law enforcement agencies, and continue in its efforts to improve its practices and procedures.

To be accredited, law enforcement agencies must demonstrate the following:

  • A comprehensive set of formal goals and directives;
  • A solid structure for providing information and analysis to the chief of police and the management team;
  • An emergency preparedness program already in place;
  • Development or improvement of the agency’s relations with the community;
  • Adherence to stringent standards that promote strong lines of accountability, both within the agency and with the community, and reduce liability and risk exposure to the agency; and
  • Facilitation of the agency’s pursuit of professional

UTPD first earned CALEA accreditation in 2009 after three years of preparation. The  department received its re-accreditation in 2012, 2015, and in 2018. Every four years, UTPD is required to submit for full reaccreditation.

For more information, visit www.calea.org.

CONTACT:

Allen Capps (865-974-0167, rcapps2@utk.edu)

Lola Alapo (865-974-1094, lalapo@utk.edu)