The University of Delaware Police Department has received accreditation for four years from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc. (CALEA) after an extensive self-assessment, a review by independent assessors and input from UD officials and the public.

This is the fourth consecutive time that UD has achieved this accreditation, which is known as the gold standard for public safety agencies. The University received its first CALEA accreditation in 2007.

In the CALEA notification letter, Richard W. Myers, chairperson, and W. Craig Hartley Jr., executive director, congratulated the University of Delaware Police for “demonstrating a commitment to professional excellence through accreditation.”

“This accreditation is the result of the hard work and the professional and dedicated service of all those who are part of the University of Delaware Police Department,” said UD Police Chief Patrick Ogden. “CALEA’s standards represent the best practices in law enforcement, and we are committed to this accreditation process as an important part of our mission to provide high quality law enforcement services to the University community.”

The process includes a self-assessment, reviewing all department policies, practices and processes against internationally accepted public safety standards. Independent assessors then gathered public feedback and interviewed select personnel as well as other University administrators. The decision to accredit is made by a governing body of 21 CALEA commissioners after a public hearing and review of the documentation.

More information about the CALEA is available at the commission's website.