During winter break, the Department of Campus Safety (DCS) began taking steps to become among the first few partner universities of an accreditation firm known as the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA).

CALEA was created in 1979 after the International Association of Chiefs of Police, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement, National Sheriff’s Association and the Police Executive Research Forum joined together to form an organization to hold law enforcement agencies to a high standard of practice, according to CALEA’s website.

Sgt. Stephen Banet of DCS addressed the need for professional law enforcement accreditation at DU.
“We started taking a good hard look at ourselves after the 2012 Presidential Debate and what we can do better,” he said. “Also, we try to model ourselves after the Denver Police Department.”

The partnership will cost DCS $10,000, which will cover the costs of the accreditation process as well as travel costs for CALEA committee members to come to DU. Throughout 2014, CALEA members will meet with and evaluate DCS to ensure that the best practices of law enforcement are carried out.

Banet believes that having a qualified accreditation agency evaluate law enforcement at DU will not only improve the functionality of DCS, but the overall university experience as well.

“We’re a community-oriented policing agency, and CALEA recognizes that,” said Banet. “[Their help] will further working relationships in the DU community.”

Having an official accreditation will lead to insurance breaks on the part of DCS, as well as the ability to further officer training and the possibility of hiring other qualified staff to assist in DCS affairs.