NAU Police Department accreditation team invites public comment

A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. will arrive in Flagstaff on April 29 to examine all aspects of the Northern Arizona University Police Department’s policy and procedures, management, operations and support services, Chief Jesse G. Ochoa announced.

As part of the on-site assessment, agency employees and members of the community are invited to offer comments at a public information session at 7 p.m. Monday, May 1, in the du Bois Center Fremont room on the NAU campus.

Those who are unable to attend the public session may provide comments by telephone between 1 and 3 p.m. May 1 by calling (928) 523-6249.

Verification by the team that the NAU Police Department meets the commission’s state-of-the-art standards is part of a voluntary process to retain accreditation—a highly prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence, Ochoa said.

Telephone comments as well as appearances at the public information session will be limited to 10 minutes and must address the department’s ability to comply with commission standards. A copy of the standards is available upon request at the police department.

Anyone wishing to submit written comments about the NAU Police Department’s ability to comply with the standards may send them to the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement, Inc., 10302 Eaton Place, Suite 100, Fairfax, VA 22030-2215.

The NAU Police Department must comply with 446 standards to gain accredited status, Ochoa explained. “Accreditation provides an added element of professionalism and pride to our department,” he said.

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

For information, contact the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., 10302 Eaton Place, Suite 100, Fairfax, VA 22030-2215, (800) 368-3757.