Campus law enforcement accreditation team to visit SMU

An invited team of assessors from the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA) will examine all aspects of SMU Police Department policy, procedures, management, operation and support services in September, SMU Police Chief Rick Shafer announced today.

The visit, scheduled for Sept. 22, 2013, is part of a voluntary accreditation process by which the assessment team verifies that the SMU Police Department meets IACLEA’s standards. IACLEA accreditation is a highly prized recognition of campus public safety professional excellence, Shafer said.

The SMU Police Department must comply with 203 different IACLEA standards to achieve accreditation. “It’s important to us to adhere to industry standards and to be familiar with the latest and most effective law-enforcement techniques,” Shafer said. “Outside assessments such as the accreditation process help to confirm our status as a leading-edge police department.”

As part of the accreditation process, University community members, agency employees and the public are invited to offer comments. Individuals may give telephone comments directly to the assessment team at 214-768-0803 from 8-11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 23.

Written comments about the SMU Police Department’s ability to comply with the accreditation standards may be submitted to IACLEA Accreditation, 342 North Main St., West Hartford CT 06117-2507.

All comments must address the department’s ability to comply with IACLEA standards. A copy of the standards is available for viewing at the SMU Police Department, located at 3128 Dyer St. on the SMU campus. To view the standards, please contact SMU Police Sgt. Brian Kelly, accreditation manager for the SMU Police Department, at 214-768-1577.

The assessment team is composed of experienced campus law enforcement professionals from outside of Texas. The assessors are Capt. Gary Heller, Amtrak Police Department, team leader; and Capt. John K. Jacobs, University of Richmond.

The assessors will review written materials, interview individuals, and inspect facilities where compliance can be witnessed. Once they complete their review, they will report back to IACLEA, which will decide if the SMU Police Department will receive renewed accredited status, Kelly said.

Accreditation is for four years, during which the department must submit annual reports attesting to continued compliance with those standards under which it was initially accredited.

Media Contact:

Kent Best
SMU News and Communications
214-768-7673
kbest@smu.edu

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