Purdue police seek accreditation from law enforcement commission

Officer Argerbright conducts a traffic accident investigation
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Purdue police Chief Gary Evans said that meeting the standards of the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc. would ensure that the department's performance adheres to internationally accepted guidelines. Meeting those requirements, he said, would provide the foundation to better serve the needs of the public.

"Our department will need to comply with more than 400 professional accreditation standards," Evans said. "They will help guarantee that we are protecting and serving the Purdue community using the best policies and practices available.

"Having an outside professional accreditation body come in and examine how police services are provided will require us to evaluate ourselves at a deeper level than we ever have before. Less than 4 percent of law enforcement agencies nationwide have achieved this accreditation. This will be a significant challenge for our police department, but I'm confident we are up to the task."

About 20 percent of the accreditation process has been completed so far. Evans said he expects the remaining steps – a self-assessment phase, an on-site assessment, panel interviews, a public discussion forum and a final accreditation decision - to be finished within two years.

The accreditation commission was established in 1979 by four major law enforcement executive associations: the International Association of Chiefs of Police, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, National Sheriffs' Association and Police Executive Research Forum. The commission's 21 members include 11 from law enforcement and 10 representatives from the public and private sectors.

Evans said the commission evaluates the department's policies, procedures, equipment and personnel, seeking to bring all of these areas into compliance with the performance standards and to maintain them at that level. Evans said tangible benefits from the accreditation process include:

-- Independent confirmation that policies comply with professionally developed standards.

-- The enhancement of recruitment, selection and promotion processes.

-- Enhanced understanding of agency policies and procedures, both inside and outside the department.

-- Greater effectiveness in the department's administration and operations.

-- Increased public confidence in the department.

Writer: Brian Zink, (765) 494-2080, bzink@purdue.edu

Source: Gary Evans, (765) 494-8221

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

PHOTO CAPTION:
Purdue police officer Gabe Argerbright conducts a traffic accident investigation. Procedures such as accident investigation are among the more than 400 professional standards included in the accreditation process now under way at the Purdue Police Department. (Photo provided by the Purdue University Police Department)

A publication-quality photo is available at https://www.purdue.edu/uns/images/+2006/evans-accredit.jpg

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