The University of Tennessee Police Department (UTPD) has earned its sixth CALEA reaccreditation with Gold Standard Advanced Accreditation, recognizing the department for full compliance with all 484 nationally recognized law enforcement standards established by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA).
UTPD received the reaccreditation award during the CALEA Summer Conference in Omaha, Nebraska. The department’s accreditation efforts were led by Allen Capps, UTPD’s accreditation manager.
CALEA accreditation is considered the gold standard in public safety. Fewer than 5% of law enforcement agencies in the United States have earned CALEA accreditation, and UTPD remains one of only four CALEA-accredited university police departments in Tennessee.
The comprehensive reaccreditation process evaluates every aspect of agency operations, including use of force, emergency management, critical incident response, community engagement, recruitment, training, and diversity initiatives.
UTPD, which employs 72 commissioned officers, continually reviews its recruitment strategies to build a department that reflects the diverse community it serves. This commitment helps ensure officers bring a broad range of perspectives to their work and strengthens the department’s ability to serve the campus effectively.
To earn reaccreditation, UTPD submitted extensive documentation demonstrating compliance with CALEA standards. The process also included an independent assessment, a review of department policies and practices, and interviews with members of the University of Tennessee and Knoxville communities regarding the department’s effectiveness and service.
“This reaccreditation reflects the professionalism and dedication our officers and staff demonstrate every day,” said UTPD Chief Sean Patterson. “CALEA accreditation is more than an award, it is a commitment to accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement. Maintaining these nationally recognized standards helps ensure we provide the highest level of service to our campus community while building trust through proven best practices in law enforcement.”
UTPD first earned CALEA accreditation in 2009 after three years of preparation. Since then, the department has successfully completed six consecutive reaccreditation cycles, maintaining its accredited status through rigorous evaluations conducted every four years. The latest award reaffirms UTPD’s longstanding commitment to professional excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement in campus law enforcement. To find out more, visit the CALEA website.