Rowan University’s Public Safety Department has become the first university police department in New Jersey to receive national accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA).
“At Rowan, we strive to be the best of the best and accreditation by CALEA means that we are adhering, across the board, to the highest standards of professionalism in law enforcement,” says Michael Kantner, assistant vice president of public safety and emergency management. “Accreditation by CALEA is a highly prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence.”
To receive national accreditation by CALEA, the department was required to meet 464 standards set forth by the commission. The department, which answered more than 25,000 calls last year, began the process toward accreditation in 2004.
The five-step accreditation process culminated last December when a team of CALEA assessors spent four days on campus. The assessors determined the department’s compliance with CALEA standards, viewed the agency’s operations, and conducted a public information session. The assessors then made a recommendation for accreditation to the commission, which granted national accreditation on Saturday, March 26.
The department will seek recertification by CALEA every three years. Rowan’s Public Safety Department will soon grow by 17 officers when the department begins patrolling in Camden around Cooper University Hospital and the new Cooper Medical School of Rowan University building.
While Rowan is the first college or university in New Jersey to achieve national accreditation, it is the 11th agency in the state to be accredited, according to Janice Dixon, program specialist for CALEA. The New Jersey State Police has achieved national accreditation, as has the Burlington Township Police Department, the only other South Jersey agency to be nationally recognized.
“CALEA accreditation means that Rowan’s Public Safety Department is working under the same standards used by top law enforcement agencies, including the New Jersey State Police,” says Dixon. “It’s an accomplishment that very few law enforcement agencies have achieved.”
Kantner says accreditation by CALEA “results in greater accountability within our department, reduced risk and liability exposure, stronger defense against civil lawsuits, increased community advocacy and more confidence in our ability operate efficiently and respond to community needs.”
“It’s an important step for our department and ensures that we’re doing the very best we can to keep students, faculty, staff and the Glassboro community safe,” he adds.
CALEA accreditation addresses nine major law enforcement areas and helps law enforcement agencies strengthen crime prevention, formalize essential management procedures, establish fair and nondiscriminatory personnel practices, improve service delivery, solidify interagency cooperation and coordination and boost citizen and staff confidence in the agency, according to CALEA.
In 2003, Rowan’s Department of Public Safety was mainly a security force with three full-time police officers and two dozen security officers. Today, less than a decade later, the department boasts 23 full-time campus police officers and 17 security officers. Altogether, the department, which also includes safety and emergency services, perking services, and security and student programs, has 70 employees.
Dr. Timothy D. Michener, who served as assistant vice president of Public Safety from 2002 until his death from cancer in April of 2009, put the department on the path to accreditation. During his tenure, Michener moved the department from a security department into a full-fledged law enforcement agency.
“We’re very happy to say that Tim’s vision has finally come to fruition,” said Kantner, who was appointed in 2010.
Rowan’s accreditation team was led by Senior Director Reed Layton, a retired Glassboro police officer who joined the University force in 2005.
“Rowan Public Safety takes great pride in the professionalism and leadership of our officers,” says Layton. “CALEA accreditation means that we’re achieving the highest possible professional standards as we serve the community.”
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