A $20,000-process that began almost four years ago is nearing completion for Campus Community Police Service (CCPS) as it seeks to become the first Canadian force to receive international accreditation.
Assessors from the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA) will be at Western April 18-21 to examine all aspects of the campus police’s policy and procedures, management, operations and support services.
IACLEA advances public safety for educational institutions and includes more than 1,100 colleges and universities in 20 countries, along with 2,000 individual memberships held by campus law enforcement staff, criminal justice faculty members and municipal chiefs of police.
While 17 U.S. colleges and universities have IACLEA accreditation, Western would be the first in Canada. The University of Windsor is working toward accreditation.
“This is something we have always been pro-active with,” says CCPS Director Elgin Austen. “This was a choice we made. The best student experience is made up of safe and positive experience. This wasn’t a big decision for us to make, it only made sense to do this. It sets Western apart from all other campus police and security safety departments at universities in Canada.”
Headed by CCPS Manager Michael Mics, and with the help of work study students, the process began by reviewing hundreds of policies and procedures to meet the 233 IACLEA standards, which cover areas such as operational openness, criminal arrests, accountability and discipline, training, equipment and use of force.
Anyone wishing to offer comments about campus police’s ability to comply with IACLEA standards can do so April 20 from 1 until 5 p.m. by calling 519-661-3400. A copy of the standards is available at campus police reception by contacting Mics (ext. 83300).
Achieving accreditation means more than just a framed certificate on the wall, says Austen.
“Acquiring and maintaining international standards will ensure the practices and accountabilities of the campus police here at Western remain consistent with the best universities in North America,” says Austen. “Saying what you do and actually doing it are two entirely different things.”
If successful, Campus Police will receive the recognition at the IACLEA Conference in Quebec City in June. Accreditation is for three years.