The UCF Police Department has received accreditation from the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFA), following a rigorous, top to bottom review of agency policy and operations.
UCFPD must comply with approximately 250 standards related to life, health and safety issues in order to earn accreditation. A team composed of law enforcement practitioners from similar agencies from around Florida visited UCFPD in March to assess compliance before making the recommendation for accreditation to the board.
Accreditation, which is valid for three years, is a voluntary process that speaks to agencies’ commitment to transparency and accountability. UCFPD was first accredited in 2013, and this is the agency’s fourth time earning the recognition.
“My charge to every member of UCF Public Safety is to do the right thing, and the third-party review from the CFA validates that we are on the right path and serving our community according to the highest standards,” says UCF Police Chief Carl Metzger ’03MS. “We are honored to have again earned accreditation, and we will continue to push forward to be the most professional, progressive and innovative campus law enforcement agency in the country.”
UCFPD’s accreditation is overseen by Accreditation Manager Cynthia Pugsley ’03 ’05, with support from UCFPD’s Training unit. During their on-site visit, assessors question and engage with employees across UCFPD, which makes earning accreditation a true team effort.
Next, UCFPD is pursuing accreditation through the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators, or IACLEA. This designation is specific to campus law enforcement and expands upon traditional state standards to include policy and procedures around federal laws such as the Clery Act and Title IX.
