Purdue Police Department's professional accreditation reaffirmed

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue University's police department has been reaccredited with the nation's largest law enforcement accreditation association.

The stamp of approval from the Commission for Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) means that the department meets numerous standards for personnel training and department policies and procedures.

"The importance of the accreditation is that it ensures the public we serve that we have met specific and strict law enforcement guidelines in professionalism and accountability and that we're continuously looking at proven and effective strategies from police agencies around the nation," said Purdue police Chief John Cox. "We hope this gives our campus community of about 55,000 people a sense of security that they are being served by an informed, well-trained police staff."

Purdue's department first sought and received CALEA accreditation in 2010. Accreditation lasts for three years before a unit is evaluated again for another three-year term. CALEA has more than 400 standards, some mandatory and some voluntary. The Purdue Police Department, which consists of 42 officers, meets all of the required standards and several voluntary standards.

CALEA was created in 1979 as a credentialing authority through joint efforts of law enforcement's major executive associations.

Writer: Jim Bush, 765-494-2077, jsbush@purdue.edu