Indiana State University Newsroom

The Indiana State University Department of Public Safety has earned accreditation from the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators.

The action follows a five-step process in which the department developed new written directives and modified existing directives and policies, and a team of experienced campus law enforcement professionals conducted an onsite evaluation. The evaluation included a tour of department facilities, interviews with department personnel and members of the campus community and a review of the department’s compliance with applicable standards.

“Accreditation sends a strong signal that the Public Safety Department at Indiana State adheres to the highest professional law enforcement standards,” said Diann McKee, senior vice president for finance and administration. “Members of the department can be proud of this accomplishment. Students, parents, faculty, staff and visitors to our campus can be assured that the department is truly top notch.”

Fewer than 60 higher education institutions in the country have received accreditation from the international association since it was first offered in 2007 and Indiana State is the first college or university in Indiana to do so.

Other campus law enforcement agencies in the state are accredited by other organizations, but the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators is unique in that its standards are developed by campus public safety professionals.

“The association understands the unique challenges law enforcement faces in a university setting,” said department Chief Joe Newport, a former chief of the Terre Haute Police Department. “In order to achieve accreditation, ISU PD had to demonstrate adherence to more than 200 different standards covering everything from criminal investigation and organization of the department to staff procedures and fiscal management. This is a significant accomplishment.”

Newport thanked all members of the department for their role in achievement accreditation, especially Cpl. Tamara Watts for serving as the agency’s accreditation manager for the past two years.

“She kept us all on task and ensured that the association had everything they needed for the department to achieve accreditation,” he said.

The Public Safety Department at Indiana State has 26 full-time police officers who exercise full police authority and enforce federal and state laws as well as university policies. Officers have jurisdiction on and off campus, and are available 24 hours a day throughout the year.

Photo: http://isuphoto.smugmug.com/Other/Media-Services/Media-Miscellaneous/University-Police/i-cgkLVwk/0/X3/June%2001%2C%202015%20accreditation%20%200310-X3.jpg – Cpl. Tamara Watts (left) and Assistant Chief Michele Barrett pose with the certificate of accreditation the Indiana State University Department of Public Safety earned from the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators. (ISU/Rachel Keyes)

Contact: Joe Newport, chief, Department of Public Safety, Indiana State University, 812-237-4018 or joseph.newport@indstate.edu

Writer: Dave Taylor, media relations director, Office of Communications and Marketing, Indiana State University, 812-237-3743 or dave.taylor@indstate.edu