The Campus Police Department at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center has received accreditation through the Tennessee Law Enforcement Accreditation (TLEA) program. The accreditation, which is valid for four years, is awarded to law enforcement agencies that have provided exemplary service to their communities.
In order to maintain good standing, agencies must maintain compliance with program standards in between assessments. This includes complying with all new and amended standards adopted by the TLEA’s Professional Standards Committee.
“This accreditation reflects the professionalism of our campus police department,” said Ken Brown, JD, MPA, PhD, FACHE, executive vice chancellor and chief operations officer at UTHSC. “Its importance is more critical than ever because it exemplifies that the women and men in our department are trained law enforcement professionals and adequately prepared to address any of the many crisis situations we face with the upmost of dignity and respect for each and every member of this community.”
The TLEA accreditation is the third accreditation and fifth consecutive honor for the Campus Police Department. The department is also accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA®) and the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators. In February, the department, ranked 12th for campus safety in a poll from the National Campus Safety Summit.
Last year, UTHSC ranked in the Top 10 among 490 colleges on the 2019 Safest Campuses in America list, according to the National Council for Home Safety and Security.