Police department awarded advanced accreditation with excellence
“I am so grateful and proud of all of you for embracing what we’re trying to achieve,” UTA Police Chief Kim Lemaux told members of her team. “I appreciate the work that you do. I appreciate the attitude that you approach your work with, and I hope that you are just as proud of this achievement as I am, because this is our accomplishment.”
The certificate of advanced accreditation with excellence, which was presented to select law enforcement agencies across the country, states that UTA PD will remain an accredited agency for a period of four years. Benefits that come with CALEA accreditation include increased community advocacy and support from government officials, stronger defense against civil lawsuits, reduced risk and liability exposure and greater accountability within the agency. Lemaux noted that accreditation boosts the confidence that campus community members can have in the department and reminds them that UTA PD is a credible, trustworthy agency.
To obtain the award, the UTA Police Department was required to meet each of the 480-plus criteria and submit an application describing how its business model promotes progressive community engagement strategies, uses data as a tool for management decisions, repeatedly uses the accreditation model for outcomes management and fills a leadership role among peer agencies.
“The determination I’ve seen in my co-workers to simply be better has been inspiring, and I want to make sure they understand how much I appreciate everything they do to make this happen,” said Amanda Moss, the department’s accreditation manager.
John Hall, vice president for administration and economic development, commended UTA PD for maintaining accreditation status while also achieving an even higher standard with its advanced accreditation.
“Always ask, ‘What does excellence mean’ in your area,” he said. “If another university is wondering about an issue they have, I want them to think, ‘Well, you need to call UT Arlington, because they do that really well.’”
UTA PD has been a CALEA-accredited law enforcement agency since 2006. It is also accredited through the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators.
- Written by Ellie Mahan – Marketing, Messaging, and Engagement