A team of assessors from the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators will arrive on campus on May 21 to examine all aspects of the University of Colorado Boulder Police Department’s policies and procedures, management, operations and support services. The review is part of CUPD’s efforts to become the first nationally accredited police department in Boulder County. As part of the assessment process, public comments will be taken and reviewed.
CU Boulder students, faculty and staff, and members of the wider Boulder community are invited to offer comments on the agency’s ability to comply with IACLEA standards by calling 303-492-2971 on May 22 from 5 to 7p.m. Comments will be taken live by the assessment team. Anyone wishing to submit written comments may email them to jmurphy@iaclea.org by May 25.
Telephone and written comments should address the agency’s ability to comply with the IACLEA accreditation standards outlined in the standards manual on the IACLEA website.
“We are excited to host the IACLEA assessment team on the CU Boulder campus to demonstrate compliance with stringent professional standards, while also showcasing CUPD’s unique policies, programs and training,” said Assistant Vice Chancellor for Public Safety and Chief of Police Doreen Jokerst.
The assessment team is made up of experienced law enforcement professionals from other states. Verification by the assessment team that CUPD meets IACLEA’s state-of-the-art standards is part of a voluntary process to gain accreditation—a highly prized recognition of public safety professional excellence. Of the approximately 18,000 federal, state, county, city and university law enforcement agencies in the United States, less than 1% of police agencies hold some form of accreditation.
To become accredited, CUPD must comply with 215 applicable standards, from crime prevention and community involvement to critical incident management, patrol, operations and more. IACLEA’s standards, including six new and three modified standards released by its accreditation commission in 2021, include a new duty to intervene standard and a modified standard on medical aid after use of force.
The association’s standards align with the Standards for Certification on Safe Policing for Safe Communities, the executive order issued by former President Trump following the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer in May 2020.
During their three-day, on-site visit later this month, assessors will review written materials, interview individuals and inspect facilities where compliance can be witnessed.
“We are feeling excited and prepared for the assessment team’s visit,” said Accreditation Manager Jennifer Barry, who has led CUPD through the accreditation preparations for nearly two years. “It’s a fantastic opportunity to showcase our crime prevention efforts and community involvement, which are areas where CUPD truly shines.”
Once the assessors complete their review of the agency, they will report back to IACLEA, which will then decide if the agency is to be awarded accredited status. Generally, this can take approximately six weeks.
Accreditation is valid for four years, during which time CUPD must submit annual reports attesting to continued compliance with those standards under which it was initially accredited. To remain accredited, CUPD will undergo regular reviews to ensure compliance with accreditation standards.
“This is an ongoing commitment to excellence and I’m grateful for the dedication of every member of the department, every step of the way,” said Jokerst.