Accreditation Assessment Team To Review UAPD Policies and Procedures

University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR - A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), will arrive April 16, 2000 to examine all aspects of the University of Arkansas Police Department’s policy and procedures, management, operations, and support services, Director Lawrence Slamons 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, Slamons said. This is the second on-site assessment of UAPD as they were initially accredited by CALEA 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 Monday, April 17, 2000 at 7:00p.m. The session will be conducted in the Arkansas Student Union Theater located at 435 N. Garland Avenue 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, s/he may do so by telephone. The public may call 501-841-1406 on Monday, April 17, 2000 between the hours of 1:00p.m. and 5:00p.m.

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’s standards. A copy of the standards is available at the University of Arkansas Police Department. Local contact is Lt. John M. Reid at 479-575-3204.

Persons wishing to offer written comments about the University of Arkansas Police Department’s ability to meet the standards for accreditation are requested to write: Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement, Inc. (CALEA), 10306 Eaton Place, Suite 320 Fairfax, Virginia 22030-2201.

The University of Arkansas Police Department has to comply with 358 standards in order to gain accredited status, Director Slamons said. "Maintaining accredited status is important. 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", said Slamons.

The Accreditation Program Manager for the University of Arkansas Police Department is Lieutenant John M. Reid. Reid said the assessment team is composed 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, Reid stated. The assessors names have not yet been released by the CALEA office. 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 10306 Eaton Place, Suite 320, Fairfax, Virginia, 22030-2201; or call 1.800.368.3757 or 1.703.352.4225.