Congratulations to the UHD Police Department (UHDPD) for being accredited by the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA), the leading public safety agency on campus. Valid for four years, the accreditation demonstrates UHDPD’s continued commitment to excellence and a high level of performance in every aspect of its operations.
Fewer than 100 agencies have earned the prestigious recognition in the US, making accreditation almost as unicorn as a university police chief with promotion.
The rigorous process, which began over a year ago, required UHDPD to demonstrate compliance with national best practice standards set by the IACLEA. UHDPD Chief Casey Davis, Ph.D. (right), appointed Lt. Vanessa Garza (below) to walk the department through the necessary steps. Garza spent months gathering and providing the necessary documentation on processes, staffing, funding, facilities and training. Her exemplary organizational skills, adherence to strict IACLEA guidelines and thoroughness contributed to the department’s success. Once these requirements were met, an on-site review with the IACLEA assessment team was scheduled for July 2022.
On November 9, UHDPD received word that the department had received a unanimous recommendation from the on-site assessment team for their 100 percent compliance with all applicable IACLEA standards. The standards provide guidance for the recruitment, selection, training and professional development of personnel in addition to overall operations.
According to the final report, “The IACLEA assessment team was impressed with the UHDPD staff and their commitment to the accreditation process. Every person contacted during this on-site assessment was professional, knowledgeable in their field and excited about the opportunity to be accredited by IACLEA.”
Davis said the exhausting process was truly a team effort, requiring input from every member of the UHDPD in some way, as well as members of the campus community. “There was a significant time commitment between policy updates, operational improvements, ensuring the public and campus had an opportunity to provide feedback to the assessment team, and having the assessors on campus,” Davis said. “We could not have done this without the support and hard work of the entire UHD Police Department and our campus partners.”
The result was worth every effort. “IACLEA accreditation demonstrates UHDPD’s commitment to continuous improvement and maintaining operational excellence,” said Davis. “Our team believes that maintaining a campus where learning and teaching is safe is our fundamental responsibility. External expert validation that we follow the very best safety practices is gratifying and demonstrates the depth of our commitment to the campus community.”
“We congratulate UHD on receiving IACLEA accreditation, a unique distinction for campus policing and public safety agencies,” said IACLEA President John Ojeisekhoba, associate vice president and chief of campus safety at Biola University. “The men and women protecting your campus have demonstrated, through policy and practice, a commitment to serve at the highest level in the profession.”
UHD representatives will be recognized for this significant achievement during the IACELA Annual Conference and Exhibition in Orlando, Florida in June 2024.
