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).

According to CALEA, about 5% of law enforcement agencies nationwide have achieved the advanced distinction. It is the department’s sixth consecutive award since earning its initial accreditation in 2006.

“Accreditation is a gold standard for best practices in our profession. This is a voluntary program in which we participate in order to show our community that we willingly hold ourselves accountable,” said UNT Police Chief Ramona Washington. “We are thrilled to have received reaccreditation. This process is demanding all year long, but it’s a worthwhile venture for our community.”

A voluntary, international program, the CALEA accreditation represents the highest standard of accountability 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 Bellevue, Washington, confirmed the 2023 accreditation for UNT Police on Nov. 11.

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).

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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.