University of Chicago Police Department Achieves Re-Accreditation

JULY 29, 2021

The University of Chicago Police Department was re-accredited with Advanced Law Enforcement Accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) on July 16. The UCPD achieved their initial accreditation in 2014.

The University of Chicago Police Department is one of only 81 university police departments in the United States currently accredited by CALEA, and remains the only CALEA accredited university police department in Illinois. The UCPD also maintains dual accreditation by CALEA and the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA).

In April, a team of assessors from CALEA conducted an “agency assessment,” examining and auditing all aspects of the UCPD’s policies and procedures, management, operations and support services. Verification by the assessment team that the department meets the Commission’s stringent standards is part of a voluntary process to gain accreditation, a highly prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence.

The assessment process was conducted by Carolyn Consoli, major at the University of Maryland Police Department; and Amy Schreiner, captain at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Police Department. The assessors reviewed written materials, interviewed key personnel, held public and telephone comment sessions, and conducted a facility inspection for evidence of compliance.

Accreditation is for four years, during which time the agency must submit annual reports and documentation of continuing compliance with standards.

For more information, visit the CALEA website.