A team of assessors from the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators will visit CSUN next week to examine all aspects of CSUN Department of Police Services’ policies, procedures, management, operations and support services. Photo by Lee Choo.

A team of assessors from the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA) will visit California State University, Northridge next week to examine all aspects of CSUN Department of Police Services’ policies,  procedures, management, operations and support services.

Verification by the team that the Department of Police Services meets IACLEA’s state-of-the-art standards is part of a voluntary process to gain reaccreditation — a highly prized recognition of campus public safety professional excellence.

“During a time when police practices are being questioned and reevaluated, it is important that we maintain the highest level of standards of conduct, transparency, training and accountability,” said Interim Chief of Police Alfredo Fernandez. “Now, being in our fifth accreditation process, we assure our campus community that we are held to the highest standards of upholding justice for everyone — with a lens that welcomes diversity and embraces equity and inclusion. Our students, faculty and staff deserve no less.”

Scott VanScoy, retired CSUN police captain and accreditation manager, has overseen the months-long process to prepare for this year’s assessment.

“It’s been a pleasure leading the CSUN Department of Police Services through 19 years of accreditation as the accreditation manager,” VanScoy said. “During that time, the process has greatly professionalized the department and its members, in being recognized regionally and nationally for its public safety and policing operations, all of which involved the development of collaborative working relationships between campus constituents in pursuit of mutual goals. Moving forward, accreditation will continue to be a valuable catalyst in the pursuit of delivering new and innovative services to the community the department serves through partnerships that build trust and enhance the quality of life.”

Members of the campus community, police services employees and members of the public are invited to offer comments about the department by calling (818) 677-7788 between the hours of 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. on Monday, May 2. Comments will be collected by the assessment team.

Telephone comments must address the department’s ability to comply with IACLEA’s standards. The IACLEA Accreditation Standards Manual is available on the IACLEA website, www.iaclea.org. Anyone wishing to submit written comments may send them to IACLEA Accreditation, P.O. Box 825345, Philadelphia, PA 19182-5345.

The CSUN Department of Police Services must comply with 227 standards in order to achieve accredited status.

The assessment team is composed of experienced law enforcement professionals from outside the state of California who will review written materials, conduct interviews, and inspect operation procedures and facilities where compliance can be witnessed. The assessors are Brian Seastone, retired chief of police from the University of Arizona and the team leader, and Richard White, retired director of public safety of Portage, Mich.

Accreditation is for four years, during which time the department must submit annual reports attesting to continued compliance with those standards under which it was initially accredited.

Accreditation, Department of Police Services, nternational Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators, Police Services