A team from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc. (CALEA) examined all aspects of the Middle Tennessee State University Police Department's policies and procedures, management, operations and support services. According to university Police Chief Buddy Peaster, the visit took place on December 3rd.

Verification by the team that the MTSU Police Department meets the Commission's state-of-the-art standards is part of a voluntary process to gain accreditation -- "a highly prized recognition of public safety professional excellence," Peaster said.

As part of the assessment, agency personnel and members of the community offered comments during a public information session on December 4th.

The Middle Tennessee State University Police Department has to comply with 158 standards in order to gain accredited status, Peaster said.

"Our department recognizes the excellence promoted by accreditation and the role CALEA plays in working with law enforcement agencies to meet the organization's demanding accreditation standards," he said. "We believe achieving accreditation will be very positive and beneficial not only to our department, but to our community as well."

Accreditation is for four years, during which the agency must submit annual reports, and participate in annual remote web-based assessments attesting continued compliance with those standards under which it was initially accredited.