Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
ST. GEORGE — The Utah Tech University Police Department has received international accreditation awarded to only 7% of the nation's universities.
The International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators, or IACLEA, is "the largest professional association devoted to excellence in campus public safety and law enforcement," according to the organization's website. It began in 1958 with 11 colleges and universities, and today includes over 1,000 higher education institutions in 14 countries.
Obtaining the association's accreditation was a two-year process and involved representatives visiting campus to assess the police department and university, Utah Tech's press release states.
It also required a unanimous vote of approval from the association's 11-member board of directors.
The campus law enforcement association evaluates a school's compliance with nine standards when considering it for accreditation, including the duty to intervene, the use of reasonable force, and the prohibition of choke holds "unless deadly force would be considered reasonable."
By receiving the accreditation, Utah Tech is now in company with schools like Cornell University, the University of Houston and the University of Washington.
The University of Utah is listed on the association's website as a candidate for accreditation. No other Utah schools are listed as accredited or seeking accreditation.
The association also honored Utah Tech Police Capt. Ron Bridge with the Administrative Excellence Award, which goes to a campus safety employee who has demonstrated "outstanding service" in areas such as policy and planning, investigations and crime prevention.
"Utah Tech Police Department is honored to be awarded IACLEA accreditation after years of providing proof of aptitude in daily police operations," Bridge said in the press release. "The IACLEA accreditation assures Utah Tech Police Department is a leading university law enforcement provider that is focused on professionalism, adherence to policy and procedures, and accountability."
Prior to these awards, Vice President of Administrative Affairs Paul Morris was honored with the law enforcement association's 2020-21 Award for Innovations in Community Oriented Policing.
