CARBONDALE (SIU NEWS) — The Southern Illinois University Carbondale Department of Public Safety (DPS) is seeking public comment as part of an accreditation process with the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA).
An IACLEA assessment team will arrive on Aug. 10 to examine all aspects of the department’s policy and procedures, management, operations and support services, said Benjamin Newman, director of DPS and chief of police. Verification by the team that DPS meets IACLEA’s state-of-the-art standards is part of gaining a highly prized recognition of campus public safety professional excellence, Newman said.
To achieve four-year accreditation, DPS must comply with 227 standards, Newman said. This is the first time DPS is seeking accreditation with IACLEA; the department is already accredited with the Illinois Law Enforcement Accreditation Program.
“Law enforcement agency leaders who choose accreditation agree to benchmark their agency with leaders in the field,” Newman said. “Accreditation is a voluntary evaluation process. Accrediting bodies provide premier performance standards and determine an agency’s commitment to achieving those standards. Accredited agencies have managerial practices and operational policies that provide the highest level of service for their communities.”
The university community, DPS employees and the community are invited to offer comments by email to jmurphy@iaclea.org or phone at 618-453-8654 between 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Aug. 11.
DPS Cpl. Shawn Tuthill said the assessment team is composed of experienced out-of-state campus law enforcement professionals. They will review written materials, conduct interviews and inspect facilities. Once the assessors complete their department review, they will then report their findings to IACLEA for an accreditation determination. If accredited, DPS will submit annual reports to show continued compliance with those standards.
The assessors are team leader Stacy DeRooy, executive director of Title IX and Clery compliance at the Rochester Institute of Technology, and Sonya M. Johnson, planning, research and public information manager for the Albany (Ga.) Police Department.
