An assessment team from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) will visit Vanderbilt University’s campus on Aug. 19 to examine all aspects of the Vanderbilt University Public Safety Communications Unit’s policies and procedures, management, operations and support services, Associate Vice Chancellor and Chief of Police August Washington has announced.
“I’m particularly proud of our communications staff’s professionalism and the outstanding service its members provide to the community, and to all the dedication and effort that has been put forth into achieving accreditation for the communications center,” Washington said.
To receive accreditation, a highly prized recognition of public safety communications professional excellence, the VUPS Communications Unit must demonstrate full compliance with 213 public safety communication standards. Compliance will be verified through a file review and an on-site assessment by CALEA certified assessors.
As part of the on-site assessment, VUPS Communications employees and members of the community are invited to offer their comments by calling 615-343-4911 between the hours of 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Aug. 19. During this time, the CALEA assessor will accept comments, which are limited to 10 minutes and must pertain to the VUPS Communications Unit’s ability to comply with CALEA standards. A copy of the standards is available in the lobby of Vanderbilt Public Safety Parking Services, located at 2800 Vanderbilt Place.
Upon a successful initial on-site visit, the VUPS department will be the only university public safety department to maintain four separate accreditations. VUPS also holds accreditations through the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA) and the Tennessee Law Enforcement Accreditation (TLEA) program.
“Achieving accreditation by meeting the commission’s standards is a recognition of public safety professional excellence,” Washington said.
Persons wishing to offer written comments about the Vanderbilt University Public Safety Dispatch Center and its ability to meet the standards for accreditation are requested to write to: Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement, Inc., 13575 Heathcote Blvd., Suite 320, Gainesville, Virginia 20155.
For more information regarding the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., please write to the commission at 13575 Heathcote Blvd., Suite 320, Gainesville, Virginia 20155; or call 703-352-4225 or email calea@calea.org.