University Police requesting comments on services

regina.lawson.175x175A team of assessors from the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement

Administrators (IACLEA) will arrive on the Reynolda Campus on March 16 to examine all aspects of the Wake Forest University Police Department policy and procedures, management, operation and support services.

Members of the Wake Forest community, agency employees and the public are invited to offer comments on the performance and services of the WFU Police Department on Monday, March 17, either by attending an open forum in Benson University Center, Room 409, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. or by calling 336-758-7160 between 2 and 4 p.m. Comments will be taken by the assessment team.

Telephone comments must address the department’s ability to comply with IACLEA’s standards. A copy of the standards is available at the University Police Communications Center at Davis Hall. Contact Lt. Preston Oldham, accreditation manager for the Wake Forest University Police, at 336-758-7318 or view them online at http://police.wfu.edu/files/2014/03/11113-IA-Standards.pdf.

Written comments about the Wake Forest University Police Department’s ability to comply with the standards for accreditation may be sent to IACLEA Accreditation, 342 North Main Street, West Hartford, CT 06117-2507. Submissions may be sent electronically to the email address: policeassessment@gmail.com.

Verification by the team that University Police meets IACLEA’s state-of-the-art standards is part of a voluntary process to gain accreditation — a highly prized recognition of campus public safety professional excellence.

“The Wake Forest University Police Department has to comply with 210 standards in order to achieve accredited status,” said Chief Regina Lawson. “The University benefits from having an accredited public safety department as the process forces us to stay in a continuous improvement mode. As part of the process, we are constantly reviewing standards and policies. Accreditation requires us to improve and stay abreast of best practices.”

The Assessment Team is composed of experienced campus law enforcement professionals from out-of-state. Assessors will review written materials, interview individuals and inspect facilities where compliance can be witnessed.

The assessors are Captain Gary Heller, Amtrak Police Department — Team Leader; and Major Cleveland Smith Jr., Anne Arundel Community College Department of Public Safety.

“Once the assessors complete their review of the department, they will report back to IACLEA, which will then decide if the department is to be re-accredited,” Oldham said.

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

In 2008, Wake Forest University’s Police Department was the first campus to become accredited by IACLEA.

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