TUPD gains national accreditation
The Tulane University Police Department (TUPD) spent the past three years transforming into an agency that warrants recognition by the national Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). On Nov. 21, 2015, that goal was attained and now TUPD is the only accredited university police department in the state of Louisiana.
“Accreditation is not something that you have to have, but if you can achieve it, it’s a seal of approval that says you are innovative and progressive in delivering police services,” says TUPD superintendent Jon Barnwell, who took office on Jan. 17, 2012. “It means that TUPD is meeting or exceeding internationally recognized standards.”
Accreditation is not something that you have to have, but if you can achieve it, it’s a seal of approval that says you are innovative and progressive in delivering police services.
Jon Barnwell
To gain accreditation, TUPD started the process soon after Barnwell’s arrival in 2012 by rewriting its policy manual. This included revising the zero-tolerance policy and implementing body camera use for officers, among other changes.
Once the revisions to TUPD procedures were made, the first phase of accreditation requires the department to conduct annual self assessments that prove that the new policies are effective. The final phase includes a review by independent assessors and CALEA commissioners.
“The Tulane community really won’t see any immediate changes as a result of the accreditation because the process has been ongoing for three years,” says Barnwell. “Gradual changes were made and all of the latest procedures that led to the accreditation are already implemented.”
Barnwell sees the accreditation as a win for TUPD, the university and the community because it will help the department continuously adhere to and maintain what is considered best practices for policing.
“Our students, faculty and staff deserve nothing less,” says Barnwell. “We are at a prestigious institution that needs a prestigious police department.”
