UTSA Police Department Received ICALEA Reaccreditation
The UTSA Police Department (UTSAPD) received its reaccreditation from the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA) at the 2022 Annual Conference and Exposition. This is the fifth time UTSA received accreditation recognition, which is considered a commitment to best practices and a prized recognition for campus public safety agencies.
UTSAPD is also accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), a rare dual achievement. Of the 14 UT System police departments, only five are dually accredited by IACLEA and CALEA: UTSA, UT Austin, UT Arlington, UT Health Science Center at Houston and UT Health Science Center at Tyler.
“Accreditation aligns directly with reaching key components of our strategic destinations,” said UTSA Chief of Police Stephanie Schoenborn. “Through transparency, communication and community engagement we increase satisfaction with both internal and external stakeholders.”
IACLEA standards are geared toward community policing, which aid in better relationships between police and the community. Accredited agencies must comply with 227 standards organized into 17 chapters that are viewed as best practices and appropriate criteria for the effective and efficient operations of a campus public safety agency.
The accreditation program begins with a rigorous self-assessment, requiring a review of policies, practices and processes against internationally accepted public safety standards. Next, independent officials with significant public safety experience conduct an assessment. Public feedback is received to promote community trust and engagement, and interviews are conducted with police department personnel and other stakeholders to assess the agency’s effectiveness and overall service delivery.
The benefits of an IACLEA and CALEA accreditation include:
- Professional benchmarks for measuring policies and practices
- Demonstrated high quality of services
- Documented procedures that give clear guidance to staff
- Enhanced recruitment and retention of qualified staff
- Staff members trained and functioning according to established policies and procedures
- Boost to employee morale
- Periodic professional review of operations, administration and services
Accreditation is for four years, during which time the agency must submit annual reports and documentation of continuing compliance with standards.
