Accreditation assessment team for UFPD invites public comment

December 3, 2013

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies will arrive Dec. 8 to examine all aspects of the University of Florida Police Department’s policies and procedures, management, operations and support services, Chief Linda Stump announced today.

“Verification by the team that the University of Florida Police Department meets the commission’s state-of-the-art standards is part of a voluntary process to gain accreditation – a highly prized recognition of public safety professional excellence,” Stump said.

As part of the on-site assessment, agency personnel and members of the community are invited to offer comments at a public information session at 4 p.m. Dec. 10 in the Community Services Division classroom next to the University Police Administration Building on Museum Road.

If for some reason an individual cannot speak at the public information session but would still like to provide comments to the assessment team, he/she may do so by telephone.  The public may call 352-273-3310 between 1 and 3 p.m. on Dec. 10.

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 CALAEA is available fron 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the police department’s Professional Standards Office, 352-392-9583.

Persons wishing to offer written comments about the University of Florida Police Department’s ability to meet the standards for accreditation are requested to write: Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Inc.,13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320, Gainesville, Va., 20155.

UFPD must comply with 482 standards in order to gain accredited status, Stump said.  The accreditation process provides the department an independent, objective peer review of our policies and practices ensuring we are providing the best possible law enforcement services to our community.

Assessment teams are composed of public safety practitioners from similar, but out-of-state agencies.  The assessors will review written materials, interview individuals, and visit offices and other locations where compliance can be witnessed. After the assessors complete their review of the agency, they report back to the full commission, which will then decide if the agency is to be granted accredited status.

Accreditation is for three 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. please write the Commission at 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320, Gainesville, Virginia 20155; or call 800.368.3757 or 703.352.4225 or www@calea.org.

For more information, visit http://www.police.ufl.edu/