Campus comment invited during police accreditation assessment

A team of assessors from the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA) will arrive on March 14 to examine all aspects of the Wake Forest University Police Department’s policies, procedures, management, operations and support services.

“Verification by the team that the University Police Department 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,” said Assistant Vice President and Chief of Police Regina Lawson

In 2008, Wake Forest was the first university in the United States to receive IACLEA accreditation.

University community members, agency employees and the public are invited to offer comments on Tuesday, March 17, by attending an open forum with the assessment team in the Benson University Center, Room 401C, from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. If you are unable to attend and would like to speak to an assessor, please call 336-758-3082. Comments will be taken by the Assessment Team.

The campus community is also invited to join University Police for a community photo with President Wente, Vice President Kidd Brown and the IACLEA assessors. Anyone who would like to join the community photo should come to the lobby of the Benson University Center. at 8:30 am on Tuesday, March 17.

Anyone wishing to submit written comments about the University Police Department’s ability to comply with the standards for accreditation may send them to IACLEA Accreditation, Director of Professional Services, Jerry Murphy at jmurphy@iaclea.org.

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 in Alumni Hall. Please contact Accreditation Manager Tammy Taylor at 336-758-4332 to view the standards.

“The Wake Forest Police Department has to comply with 215 standards in order to achieve accredited status,” said Major Derri Stormer, who oversees the accreditation process. “Wake Forest benefits from having an accredited public safety department, as the process encourages us to stay in continuous improvement mode. We are continually 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. Assessors will review written materials, interview individuals and inspect facilities where compliance can be witnessed.

The assessors are:

Belinda Pounds, professional standards manager, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC

Stacy DeRooy, executive director of Title IX and Clery, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY

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.