University Police reaccreditation achieved, ensuring high standards are met
University Police Chief Gordon Carpenter Jr. (third from left) holds SUNY Fredonia UP's Certificate of Accreditation and Lt. Benjamin Miller (third from right) displays a certificate he received for leading UP’s re-accreditation effort. They are joined by (from left): Mary Ritayik, police commissioner, New York State University Police; Richard Bialkowski, deputy commissioner of New York State Police; and two members of the New York State Law Enforcement Accreditation Council.
The University Police Department at SUNY Fredonia, by continuing to meet high standards, has attained re-accreditation from the New York State Law Enforcement Accreditation Council.
“Obviously, I’m proud of the staff,” said Chief of Police Gordon T. Carpenter Jr. “I have only been here six months, and this is work they have been doing for the last five years, so I definitely feel admiration and am proud of the work they accomplished, particularly Lieutenant Benjamin Miller, who led the charge.”
Working with Lt. Miller during the re-accreditation process were Lt. Brian Studley, Lt. Andrew Husul, Lt. Scott Martin, Officer Scott Richards, Officer James Huels, Officer Ricky Laurito, Administrative Assistant Katie Bixby and Dispatcher Steven Wells.
UP staff were interviewed on campus by accreditation assessors during three days, Jan. 9 to 11. Methods of verification included a formal tour of the entire department, review of agency files, both scheduled and unscheduled interviews with agency personnel, escorted visits to work areas and chance meetings with sworn and civilian members of the agency.
A total of 57 interviews and 25 observations to verify compliance with 77 standards were conducted by the assessment team.
The accreditation program itself consists of 111 different standards that include 51 administration, 12 training and 48 operational standards.
To prepare accreditation assessors for their onsite evaluation, UP submitted 10 files of critical standards to provide them with a base or foundation of department standards.
The assessment team found UP has done a good job in its efforts to maintain program files and a great job in maintaining the accreditation standards. The team unanimously recommended that the department be favorably considered for reaccreditation. The New York State Law Enforcement Accreditation Council voted for UP to be reaccredited on March 7.
According to Ashley Sheroka, accreditation program coordinator, Office of Public Safety in the Division of Criminal Justice Services, SUNY Fredonia’s participation in the accreditation program “demonstrates the commitment you and your officers have to providing the highest level of service and professionalism to the community you serve.”
Upon initial accreditation, a law enforcement agency begins to prepare to be evaluated for re-accreditation in five years. University Police was accredited in 2014 and reaccredited in 2019.
Accreditation, a voluntary evaluation, provides formal recognition that a law enforcement organization meets or exceeds general expectations of quality in the field. Accreditation acknowledges the implementation of policies that are conceptually sound and operationally effective.
Even before his appointment as University Police Chief last fall, Carpenter was familiar with the accreditation process through the Howard County Police Department, Ellicott City, MD, where he served 16 years. “As a supervisor there, I was tasked with tracking certain proofs for standards for the accreditation process there,” Carpenter said.
That department, which was re-accredited several times, “did so well they were considered the flagship agency – the model that other agencies could go to for assistance for accreditation,” Carpenter noted.
