Police earn national accreditation

The University of Delaware Department of Public Safety has received a three-year accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), signifying that it has met a series of extensive and rigid standards.

The national credentialing authority was created in 1979 through the joint efforts of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, the National Sheriffs’ Association and the Police Executive Research Forum. The commission, which formally verified UD’s accreditation in November, has 21 members, including 11 who represent law enforcement agencies and 10 from the public and private sectors.

“This says to the community that we are an agency that does its job and does it right,” Chief James Flatley, UD director of public safety, says.

To attain accreditation, he says, the Department of Public Safety underwent a three-year assessment.

The on-site assessment also included a public information session and private telephone line audit, where individuals could comment on issues addressing the department’s ability to comply with CALEA standards.
Maxine Colm, UD vice president for administration, says that the accreditation “underscored the dedication of the men and women of the Department of Public Safety who engaged in the three-year accreditation review. As a result of their efforts, we are a stronger and more professional department.”