University Police Accreditation

July 30, 2001

 

 

07/30/01

 


CONTACT:
D. Bumgarner
CSULA Police Dept.
(323) 343-3738

 


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ACCREDITATION TEAM INVITESPUBLIC COMMENT

IN ASSESSMENT OF CAL STATE L.A. POLICE DEPARTMENT

Los Angeles, CA—July 30, 2001—A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) will be on the campus of California State University, Los Angeles, between Sunday, August 19 and Wednesday, August 22, 2001, to examine all aspects of the University’s Police Department (University Police) policy and procedures, management, operations, and support services, Chief Gregory D. King announced today. The University’s Department of Public Safety is composed of various sections, one of which is the University Police. The Director of Public Safety functions as the Chief of the University Police.

Verification by the team that the University 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, said King.

As part of the on-site assessment, University Police employees and members of the community are invited to offer comments at a public information session, Monday, August 20, 7:00 p.m. The session will be conducted on the Cal State L.A. campus at the Roybal Institute, Room C-120. Cal State L.A. is located at 5151 State University Drive, Los Angeles, California 90032. The campus is at the Eastern Avenue exit of the San Bernardino (#10) Freeway, at the intersection of the 10 and 710 Freeways.

If an individual cannot attend the public information session but would still like to provide comments to the assessment team, he or she may do so by telephone at (323) 343-3787 on Tuesday, August 21, between the hours of 1:00 and 5:00 p.m.

Telephone comments as well as appearances at the public information session are limited to 10 minutes and must address the ability of the University Police to comply with CALEA’s standards. A copy of the standards is available for review at the California State University, Los Angeles, Department of Public Safety, Bungalow C. Local contact is Desiree Bumgarner, who is serving as the Accreditation Manager of the University Police, (323) 343-3738.

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

The University Police Department must comply with 443 standards in order to gain accredited status, said Chief King. “Accreditation is a journey to certified professionalism and to the transformation from a non-anchored organization to a systematic method of continual/progressive upgrade and improvement. It is a conviction that says we will be the best agency we can be,” he said.

The assessment team is composed of law enforcement practitioners from similar but out-of-state agencies, explained Bumgarner. The assessors will review written materials, interview individuals, and visit officers and other places where compliance can be witnessed, she said. Assessors are Chief Paul Verrecchia, team leader and Lt. Portia Swinson, team member.

Once the Commission’s assessors complete their review on the Cal State L.A. campus, they report back to the full Commission, which will then decide if the University Police Department is to be granted accredited status, Bumgarner stated.

Accreditation is for three years during which the agency must submit annual reports attesting to continued compliance with those standards under which it was initially accredited.

Individuals who would like further information regarding the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., may write to the Commission at 10306 Eaton Place, Suite 320, Fairfax, Virginia, 22030-2201; or call (800) 368-3757 or (703) 352-4225.

 

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