Accreditation Assessment Team to Review UAPD Policies and Procedures

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc., will arrive on campus Sunday, March 22 to examine all aspects of the University of Arkansas Police Department’s policy and procedures, management, operation, and support services, UAPD director Steve Gahagans announced today.

Verification by the team that the University of Arkansas 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 law enforcement professional excellence. This is the seventh on-site assessment of UAPD, which was first accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies in July of 1995. At that time UAPD became the first nationally accredited law enforcement agency in the state of Arkansas.

As part of the on-site assessment, agency employees and members of the community are invited to offer comments at a public information session at 7 p.m. Monday, March 23, in the Emergency Operations Center at the Administrative Services Building, 155 S. Razorback Road on the University of Arkansas campus.   

If for some reason an individual cannot speak at the public information session but would still like to provide comments to the assessment team, she or he may do so by telephone. The public may call 479-249-2188 between the hours of 1 and 3 p.m. Monday, March 23.

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 the accrediting commission’s standards. A copy of the standards, and more information, is available from Sergeant Michael R. Oakes, the UAPD accreditation program manager, at 479-575-3293 or email at mroakes@uark.edu.

Anyone wishing to offer written comments about the University of Arkansas Police Department’s ability to meet the standards for accreditation can email them to calea@calea.org or mail them to: Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Inc. (CALEA), 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320 Gainesville, Virginia 20155.

The University of Arkansas Police Department has to comply with 480 standards in order to gain accredited status. 

“Maintaining accredited status is important,” said Gahagans. “It ensures that the professional, community oriented policing services, which have come to be expected by members of the University of Arkansas community are maintained.”

The accrediting commission's assessment team is made up of law enforcement practitioners from similar but out-of-state agencies. The assessors will review written materials, interview individuals, and visit offices and other places where compliance can be witnessed.  Once the commission’s 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 time the agency must submit annual reports showing continued compliance with the accreditation standards.

More information regarding the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. is available by writing the commission at 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320 Gainesville, Virginia 20155; calling 1-703-890-3126; or emailing at calea@calea.org.