DENTON (UNT), Texas — Once again, the University of North Texas Police Department is one of an elite few to earn advanced law enforcement accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA).
Only 4% of law enforcement agencies nationwide have achieved the advanced distinction. The department first earned the accreditation in 2006, before following it with consecutive awards in 2009, 2012, 2015 (CALEA switched from a three-year to a four-year cycle at this time) and 2019.
“For us, accreditation is about more than law enforcement standards. It provides a framework that holds us accountable and demands integrity,” said UNT Police Chief Ed Reynolds. “This award assures the UNT community that its police deparment is professional, well-trained and engages in nationally recognized best practices.”
A voluntary, international program, the CALEA accreditation represents the gold standard in public safety. Candidate agencies undergo a rigorous review across 456 advanced standards in areas ranging from policy and procedure to organizational management to law enforcement operations and support services. Successful agencies have to continuously meet the standards through a four-year cycle.
A formal commission hearing in Covington, Kentucky confirmed the 2019 accreditation for UNT Police on Nov. 16.
CALEA was created in 1979 as a credentialing authority through the joint efforts of law enforcement’s major executive associations: International Association of Chiefs of Police, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, National Sheriffs’ Association and Police Executive Research Forum.
The UNT Police Department is also accredited by the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA).
About the University of North Texas Police Department
The University of North Texas Police Department was established in 1970 and serves an integral role in campus life as the university's principal provider of law enforcement services for faculty, staff, students and visitors. The department’s highly trained and professional staff serve the campus 24 hours a day to protect life, property and individual rights.