University of Michigan police department accredited for another three years

U-M is one of 60 universities accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies. Two other Big Ten schools, Purdue University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, are also accredited by the commission.

The police department was re-accredited on July 21, the same day a representative spoke before a review committee in Arizona.

The department has been a recognized law enforcement agency since 1990 and received its first accreditation in 2009, according to police spokeswoman Diane Brown.

The department received accreditation despite a U.S. Department of Education Clery Act investigation that closed in 2011 and found U-M failed to accurately report 2008 crime statistics. The DOE report found that the university under-reported illegal weapons arrests and drug law violations but did not levy a fine against the police department.

The re-accreditation comes in the midst of a leadership change at the police department. Interim director Joe Piersante took over as police chief after Greg O'Dell resigned in November. O'Dell began as chief in August. The previous police chief, Ken Magee, went on medical leave in October 2010 and resigned in 2011.

To achieve and maintain accreditation, the department must show compliance with reporting procedures and other law enforcement standards.