University of Michigan police department accredited for another three years
After an accrediting agency visited the University of Michigan Department of Public Safety earlier this year and conducted interviews with police officials, the school's police department has been re-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.
Comments
notta
Mon, Jul 30, 2012 : 1:33 a.m.
its wonderful that u of m spends so much money for a washed up agency to tell them they are doing thing ok. it costs a small fortune to be a member of this org. which is why most agencies dont participate anymore.
Ricebrnr
Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 5:08 p.m.
More importantly are they The Police at University of Michigan OR The University of Michigan Police Force? an important distinction...
Joe Kidd
Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 3:33 a.m.
AAPD used to "accredited" by this organization. They dropped it. It is not worth the time and money involved, which is why so few agencies sign up for it. Good I guess for agencies who need someone to tell them how to run their department.
Dog Guy
Fri, Jul 27, 2012 : 1:24 a.m.
I can imagine the shame of a student arrested by unaccredited police
brimble
Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 9:56 p.m.
Campus police departments face a unique set of challenges; it is to UMDPS' credit that they have successfully sought and maintained accreditation. I don't envy the officers who routinely maintain perfectly professional demeanor in the face of citizens who range from rude to belligerent to abusive. Theirs is a tough job indeed.
Basic Bob
Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 9:17 p.m.
Apparently the bar is set low for reporting procedures. And stable leadership.
UtrespassM
Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 7:19 p.m.
We hope the UM DPS will work like a real police, and they will Stop filing criminal charges against Innocent citizens. Stop issuing trespass warnings to UM employees.
bedrog
Thu, Jul 26, 2012 : 9:07 p.m.
those "trespassed' that i know of are hardly "innocents' but rather egregious inciters with scant concern for the rights of others....but maybe you're different.