NEWS

from Central Connecticut State University
Honored as a "Leadership Institution" by the Association of American Colleges & Universities

Media contact: Peter Kilduff, Director of University Relations
(860) 832-1791; Kilduff@ccsu.edu


CCSU Police Dept. seeks re-accreditation among leading law enforcement agencies; public information session scheduled for January 7
 

NEW BRITAIN -- (December 31, 2007) -- Central Connecticut State University’s Police Department, the state’s first university law enforcement agency to attain international professional accreditation, will undergo its triennial re-accreditation and seeks comments from the general public as part of the process.

Richard Bachoo, CCSU’s chief administrative officer announced:  “A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) will be on our campus from January 5 to January 9, 2008 for an on-site review of all aspects of the CCSU Police Department’s policy and procedures, management, operations and support services.”

“Verification by the Commission that the CCSU Police Department meets their state-of-the-art standards is part of a voluntary process to gain re-accreditation -- a highly prized recognition of law enforcement  professional excellence,” added Jason B. Powell, CCSU’s chief of police.   

The CCSU Police Department has been accredited since 1999 and Powell said:  “Maintaining this status is an on-going project requiring constant monitoring and updating of policies and procedures to assure compliance with these evolving law enforcement standards.”

“Over 600 police agencies in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Barbados have attained accreditation.  In Connecticut, in addition to CCSU, only the Connecticut State Police, UConn Police, State Capital Police and 13 municipal police agencies are accredited through CALEA,” Powell said.  “As a part of the on-site assessment, agency employees, staff, faculty, students and members of the community are invited to offer comments at a public information session to be held Monday, January 7, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. in room 105 of the Vance Academic Center at CCSU.” 

Members of the community at large who are unable to speak at the public information session, but who would like to provide comments may call the on-site assessors at 860-832-2380 from 1p.m.to 4 p.m. on January 7.

The CCSU Police Department must comply with 445 standards to gain re-accreditation.  The assessors, all law enforcement practitioners from similar but out-of-state agencies, will review written materials, interview individuals, and visit offices and other places where compliance can be witnessed.

The assessors to visit CCSU are team leader Captain Rick Pinksaw of the Culpepper, Virginia Police Department and team members Lieutenant Gary Heller of the University of Pennsylvania Police Department, and Assistant Chief Bob Fey of the Ball State University Police Department.

Once the Commission’s assessors complete their review of the agency, their report to the Commission will help determine whether the agency is granted re-accreditation.

Re-accreditation is for three years, during which time the CCSU Police must submit annual reports attesting continued compliance with those standards under which they were accredited.

Anyone wishing to offer written comments about the CCSU Police Department’s ability to meet the standards for accreditation is requested to write: Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement, Inc. (CALEA), 10302 Eaton Place, Suite 100, Fairfax, VA 22030-2215.

Questions about the on-site inspection should be directed to the CCSU Police Department Accreditation Manager Brett Cheezic at (860) 832-2393. 

 

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