Drexel Police Achieve Advanced Reaccreditation
By Frank Otto
The Drexel University Police Department achieved advanced reaccreditation for the first time this past weekend.
“The accreditation process provides the best and most credible blueprint for any law enforcement agency in pursuit of professional excellence,” said Domenic Ceccanecchio, vice president of Drexel Public Safety. “It assures that our police department is up-to-date on law enforcement practices. It also serves to inspire public confidence and trust between the community and the members of the department.”
Accreditation was awarded through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) Inc. Ceccanecchio testified before their commission to secure the reaccreditation, which stands to improve the transparency, accountability and efficiency of law enforcement agencies.
In November 2011, the Drexel Police first received accreditation, making it the second university police force in Pennsylvania to do so.
Now, Drexel’s Police Department has acquired the “Tier 2” accreditation.
“CALEA accreditation is an organizational activity and everyone throughout the Department of Public Safety plays an important part in the accreditation process,” Ceccanecchio said.
He recognized Jane Kelly, accreditation manager, Drexel Police; Eileen Behr, director of police operations; Joe Spera, director of operations; Colin Quinn, communication accreditation and training manager; Bob Lis, associate director of investigations; and police officers Kim McClay and Jennifer August as particularly helpful in the latest accreditation process.
Drexel remains the only university in the world with both a police department and communications center that are accredited.