Public invited to weigh in on police accreditation

A team of assessors from the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA) will visit UB on Aug. 9 as part of the UB Police Department’s (UPD) voluntary effort to gain accreditation — a prestigious recognition of campus public safety professional excellence.

The assessment team will examine all aspects of UPD’s policy and procedures, management, operation and support services to verify that they meet IACLEA’s state-of-the-art standards, says UB Chief Gerald W. Schoenle Jr.

“The accreditation process is a great way for agencies to improve their operations by adhering to nationally known best practices,” Schoenle says.

Members of the university community and the public are invited to offer feedback to the team by calling (716) 645-2229 from 1-3 p.m. on Aug. 10. Comments must address the department’s ability to comply with IACLEA’s standards. The IACLEA Accreditation Standards Manual is available on the IACLEA website.

Written comments also will be accepted and may be sent to IACLEA Accreditation, 342 North Main St., West Hartford, Connecticut, 06117-2507.

Lt. Scott Marciszewski, accreditation manager for UPD, says the assessment team is composed of experienced campus law enforcement professionals from out of state. The assessors will review written materials, interview individuals and inspect UB facilities.

Once they have completed their review of the department, they will report back to IACLEA, which then will make the final determination on accreditation, Marciszewski says.

Accreditation is for four years; UPD must submit annual reports attesting to continued compliance with IACLEA standards.