The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Police Department is preparing for its second reaccreditation review and is asking the campus and surrounding community for input.
Representatives from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) will hold a public forum from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 31, in the Shiloh Room of the Carolyn P. Brown Memorial University Center at 1502 Cumberland Avenue. Parking will be available in the Volunteer Hall garage on White Avenue.
All UT students, faculty and staff, as well as members of the 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 second reaccreditation assessment, we are hopeful that the evaluators continue to find UTPD a model agency in terms of professionalism, integrity, and accountability,” Chief Troy Lane said.
Currently, UTPD and Vanderbilt University Police Department are the only CALEA-accredited university departments in Tennessee.
University employees, students and the general public also are invited to offer comments by calling 865-974-0136 on March 30 between 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. Comments will be taken by the assessment team on a nonrecorded line.
Comments by phone and at the public forum are limited to ten minutes and should address UTPD’s ability to comply with CALEA’s standards. The general areas of focus include the department’s ability to prevent and respond to crime, deliver services, build a 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
- Facilitation of the agency’s pursuit of professional excellence
UTPD first earned CALEA accreditation in 2009 after three years of preparation. The department received its first reaccreditation in 2012. Every three years it is required to submit for full reaccreditation.
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CONTACT:
Mike Richardson (865-974-3114, mrichar5@utk.edu)