Accreditation Team Invites Public Comment Related to UA Police

TUSCALOOSA, Ala.  — As part of a voluntary accreditation assessment, employees of The University of Alabama, UA Police Department and community members are invited to offer comments related to the department on Monday, Aug. 10, at 5 p.m. in the UAPD Training Room in the University Police Center, located on Jackson Avenue next to the UA School of Law.

Those who plan to attend should wear a face covering and practice social distancing while at the University Police Center.

A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc., or CALEA, will examine all aspects of the UA Police Department’s policy and procedures, management, operations and support services, UA Police Chief John Hooks said. The public feedback session is an important and useful part of this process.

Verification by the team that the UA Police Department meets the commission’s standards and positively represents the law enforcement profession is vital in our current social climate, Hooks said.

“UAPD works diligently to maintain our accreditation, and it is a point of pride for me that UAPD has held this distinction for many years,” said Hooks. “It demonstrates to our community that we greatly value this process and are committed to always being the best we can be and provide the best service we can for the University.”

If an individual cannot attend the public information session, but would like to provide comments to the assessment team, he or she may do so by telephone. The public may call 205-347-0535 on Tuesday, Aug. 11, between 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. CDT.

Telephone comments and appearances at the public information session are limited to 10 minutes and must address the agency’s ability to comply with CALEA’s standards. A copy of the standards is available at the University Police Center or by contacting officer Tarvarus Goodwin, accreditation manager, at 205-347-0540 or tgoodwin@uapd.ua.edu.

Those wishing to offer written comments about the department’s ability to meet the standards for accreditation are requested to write: Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc., CALEA, 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320, Gainesville, VA, 20155. Comments can also be emailed to CALEA at calea@calea.org.

The assessment team is composed of law enforcement practitioners from similar, out-of-state, agencies. The assessors will review written materials, interview individuals and conduct a virtual tour of UAPD’s facilities. The assessors are: Chief Jill Lees, Indiana University Police Department, team leader; and Commander Ernest Knight, University of Chicago Police Department, team member.

Once the commission’s assessors complete their review of the agency, they report back to the full commission, which will decide if the UAPD is to be granted reaccredited status.

For more information regarding the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc., write the commission at 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320, Gainesville, VA, 20155; or call 703-352-4225.