"Chief Regina Lawson" Archive

Lawson named Police Chief of the Year in southeastern U.S.

Regina Lawson is presented her award by NCSU Chief Jack Moorman

Wake Forest University Police Chief Regina Lawson was honored as the Southeast Region Police Chief of the Year at the March 28 regional conference of the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA) in Raleigh.  The region includes the southeastern United States.

Lawson has been chief of the Wake Forest Police Department since 1992.  She joined the department in 1989.  During her leadership, the department has received recognition on a number of occasions for its achievements.  Lawson, who has held numerous national and state-level leadership roles in IACLEA, has been recognized, previously, by various groups for her accomplishments as a law enforcement leader.

The department is also accredited by IACLEA; it was among the first to achieve the accreditation.

“There is no higher honor than being recognized by your peers,” Lawson said. “This means a lot to me.”

Referring to her law enforcement peers nationwide, Lawson added, “I think all of us would agree that it is all about keeping our campuses safe. That is what is really important.”

Lawson encourages others in her profession to get involved with IACLEA in any way they can.

“For those who are newer to IACLEA, I encourage you to get involved and lead where you are,” said said. “You do not have to be a regional director. You can serve on committees or task forces, host training and webinars and meetings, volunteer to assist at conferences and more.”

In the three decades since she came to Wake Forest, Lawson has been, essentially, the face of the University Police Department, as she has spoken to countless student groups, participated in innumerable University events, and led police department efforts to establish and maintain strong connections to the entire campus community.

IACLEA’s mission, as described on its website, is to advance “public safety for educational institutions by providing training, research, advocacy, accreditation, education, and professional services.”  IACLEA has members at more than 1,000 colleges and universities across the United States and in 15 countries.

Categories: Inside WFUStaff News

Campus comment invited during police accreditation assessment

A team of assessors from the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA) will arrive on April 21 to examine all aspects of the Wake Forest University Police Department’s policy and procedures, management, operations, and support services, Chief Regina Lawson announced.

“Verification by the team that the Wake Forest 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,” she said.

The Wake Forest University Police Department was first accredited in 2008.

University community members, agency employees and the public are invited to offer comments on Monday, April 23, by either attending an open forum in the Little Magnolia Room, Room 215B, Reynolda Hall from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. or by calling 336-758-5739 between 1 to 3 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 Alumni Hall. Please contact Officer John Pratt at 336-758-4723 to view the standards.

Anyone wishing to submit written comments about the Wake Forest University Police Department’s ability to comply with the standards for accreditation may send them to IACLEA Accreditation, 1110 Bonifant Street, Suite 220, Silver Spring, Md. 20910.

“The Wake Forest University Police Department has to comply with 215 standards in order to achieve accredited status,” said Lawson. “Wake Forest University benefits from having an accredited public safety department as the process forces you to stay in a continuous improvement mode.  As part of the process, you are constantly reviewing standards and policies.  Accreditation requires you to improve and stay abreast of best practices.”

The accreditation manager for Wake Forest University Police is Officer John Pratt.  He said 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 facilities where compliance can be witnessed.

The assessors are:

Chief Peter Agnesi, associate vice president, Department of Safety, Security & Emergency Preparedness, Broward College – Retired

Sonya Johnson, police planning & research manager, Albany, Ga., Police Department

“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,” Pratt 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.

Categories: Inside WFU

Pizza with the Police event to be held at Zick's Sept. 29

The University Police Department is hosting “Pizza with the Police” at Zick’s on Hearn Plaza from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sept. 29.

“The campus community is invited to stop by, have some pizza and chat with University Police,” announced University Police Chief Regina Lawson. “This is event is a part of the University Police Department’s continuous community engagement efforts to remain connected to our campus community.”

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