UH Police Chief Ceaser Moore Jr. is leading UHPD to seek accreditation with the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators. The lengthy process includes numerous applications, reviews and maintenances, but Moore believes that it is worth it to achieve a Tier One police department. | Courtesy of uh.edu
The process has begun for campus police to become accredited with the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators.
The IACLEA sets high professional standards for campus law enforcement and is dedicated to keeping campuses and communities safe. The organization offers numerous programs and educational resources that promote the advancement of public safety. IACLEA is regarded as the leading organization in the campus law enforcement community.
Chief of Police Ceaser Moore Jr. is working toward accreditation, which would improve the status of the department nationwide. The process is painstaking. Fewer than 10 campus police departments have achieved accreditation in Texas, and Chief Moore wants to make UH the next campus to become accredited.
“If you want to be a Tier One university, the University should have a Tier One police department,” Moore said.
The accreditation process has five stages: initial inquiry and application, policy compliance and review, agency evaluation, commission review and maintenance. Each phase is in-depth and the department must look at a substantial amount of policies and directives.
Capt. Katherine Smith is heading the effort to review all of the department’s policies and make them compliant with IACLEA’s standards. This poses a challenge, since each policy not only has to comply with IACLEA’s standards, but also has to adhere to internal, University and other policies. This is a difficulty that is unique to campus police departments, Smith said.
“Most city or county departments don’t have to worry about all of the different levels of compliance,” Smith said.
The IACLEA process is voluntary, but Moore has taken the initiative to set the standard for other campus police departments. This recognition of the department’s work and dedication to public safety would also reflect well on UH and is a part of Moore’s vision for the department.
“The vision for the department is for us to be the best,” Moore said. “I don’t want it to be good, or better than some.”
Despite the challenges the department faces, Moore hopes to achieve accreditation by summer 2014.
