Allen Capps is the Accreditation Manager.
During the spring of 2006, the University of Tennessee Police Department began the process for accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies in pursuit of professional excellence. On August 2, 2009, the UTPD was awarded Accreditation through CALEA.
This is a significant accomplishment because on that date, UTPD became the only CALEA accredited university police department in the state, and one of only thirty campus law enforcement agencies in the nation with CALEA accreditation.
In January 2010, UTPD was accredited through International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA). In December of 2015, UTPD was also accredited through Tennessee Law Enforcement Accreditation (TLEA) commission.
Benefits of Accreditation
CALEA accreditation requires an agency to develop a comprehensive, well thought out, uniform set of written directives. This requirement is one of the most successful methods for reaching administrative and operational goals, while also providing direction to personnel.
CALEA accreditation standards provide the necessary reports and analyses a Chief Executive Officer needs to make fact-based, informed management decisions.
CALEA accreditation requires a preparedness program be put in place so that an agency is ready to address natural or man-made unusual occurrences.
CALEA accreditation is a means for developing or improving upon an agency’s relationship with the community.
CALEA accreditation strengthens an agency’s accountability, both within the agency and the community, through a continuum of standards that clearly define authority, performance, and responsibilities.
Being CALEA accredited can limit an agency’s liability and risk exposure because it demonstrates that internationally recognized standards for law enforcement have been met, as verified by a team of independent, outside, CALEA-trained assessors.
CALEA stands for the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies. The purpose of CALEA’s accreditation programs is to improve the delivery of public safety services, primarily by maintaining a body of standards developed by public safety practitioners that cover a wide range of up-to-date public safety initiatives; establishing and administering an accreditation process; and recognizing professional excellence.
As part of the current process, an Accreditation Public Comment Portal has been implemented. The purpose of this public portal is to receive comments regarding our agency’s compliance with CALEA standards, engagement in the service community, delivery of public safety services, and overall candidacy for accredited status. These comments can be in the form of commendations or concerns. The overall intent of the accreditation process is to provide participating agencies with information to support continuous improvement and to foster the pursuit of professional excellence.
To view CALEA accreditation standards, click here, https://www.calea.org/node/11406.
To make a comment on the University of Tennessee Police Department, Accreditation Public Comment Portal, click here: https://cimrs2.calea.org/884