Topic: Administrative

August 10, 2007

As part of an accreditation process designed to improve policing of the campus community, Ball State's Department of Public Safety will host members of one of the top law enforcement commissions in the news Aug. 13-14.

An assessment team from the Commission of Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) will review the department to examine all aspects of the agency's policies and procedures, management, operations and support services.

"Verification by the team that the Department of Public Safety meets the commission's state-of-the-art standards is part of a voluntary process to gain accreditation," said Gene Burton, public safety director. "Receiving this accreditation is a highly-prized recognition in public safety professional excellence."

Ball State began the accreditation process in 2004 as a natural outgrowth of a review of the department in 2002 by private consultants. The reviewers provided a list of recommendations for improving the public safety effectiveness.

The purpose of the commission's accreditation program is to improve delivery of law enforcement service by offering standards. The standards are developed by law enforcement practitioners, covering a wide range of up-to-date law enforcement topics.

In order to receive accreditation, Ball State police must comply with more than 400 standards established by CALEA. If accreditation is granted, Ball State would be the only campus police agency in Indiana with such status.

As part of the on-site assessment, police agency personnel, members of the campus community and area residents are invited to offer comments about Ball State's police department at 5 p.m. Aug. 14 during a public information session in the Pittenger Student Center, Cardinal Hall B.

Individuals also may provide input by calling the assessors from 2 to 4 p.m. that day at (765) 285-3298. Speaking at the public information session and phone calls are limited to 10 minutes and should address the police department's ability to comply with CALEA's standards. Copies of the standards are available at the police department's headquarters at 200 N. McKinley Ave.

Written comments also may be submitted to the Commission for Accreditation for Law Enforcement, 10302 Eaton Place, Suite 100, Fairfax, Va., 22030-2215 or calea@calea.org.

Following completion of the on-site assessment, the review team will submit its report to the organization, which will then determine accreditation status.

CALEA was established as an independent accrediting authority in 1979 by several major law enforcement membership associations, including the International Association of Chiefs of Police, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, National Sheriffs' Association and Police Executive Research Forum.

By Marc Ransford, Senior Communications Strategist