Purdue University Police Department earns reaccreditation for upholding best practices, professional standards

The Commission for Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) has reaccredited the Purdue University Police Department for its general orders and professional standards. 

CALEA’s accreditation program requires law enforcement departments to follow strict standards that adhere to best practices related to life, health and safety procedures. The reaccreditation included a review by CALEA commissioners, a self-evaluation and public feedback. 

“Our continuous reaccreditation demonstrates our department’s commitment to upholding the critical standards that CALEA and our community expect of us,” said Chief Lesley Wiete. “We want the campus community to know that through training and development opportunities, we are able to apply best practices in law enforcement.”

CALEA first accredited PUPD in 2009, and it has been reaccredited since then at every opportunity, including in 2012, 2015, 2019 and again this year. Wiete says the reaccreditation process helps keep the department accountable.

“It’s important that we serve the West Lafayette campus to the best of our ability, and the public feedback portion of this process allows us to know how we can best do so,” Wiete said. “We are grateful for our wonderful campus community, and we will continue to put our best foot forward in order to serve them.”

CALEA was created in 1979 as a credentialing authority involving law enforcement’s major executive associations. 

The Purdue University Police Department is part of the Administrative Operations organization, which supports the university by providing safe, reliable and transformative services. Ensuring our police department is compliant with critical law enforcement standards is just one of the ways the organization helps power Purdue.