Contact: Maridith Geuder
STARKVILLE, Miss.--First earning the distinction in 2005, Mississippi State University's police department again is receiving a three-year accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.
Headed by Police Chief Georgia B. Lindley, the 31-officer department, a part of MSU's Division of Student Affairs, remains the only university police department in Mississippi with the national accreditation. Only two other law enforcement agencies in the state have CALEA accreditation.
"This is the result of a rigorous process of self-evaluation, as well as a campus visit by a team of independent assessors," Lindley said.
"We're very pleased that our department has received official recognition that it meets the rigorous professional standards outlined by CALEA for law enforcement policy and practice."
She especially credited the work of Lt. Ken Rogers, who served as accreditation manager for the process. He has been a member of the MSU police department since 1997.
Based in Fairfax, Va., CALEA is governed by a board of 21 law enforcement, public safety, judicial, and governmental representatives. The accreditation process is voluntary and, through a comprehensive body of standards, promotes improved delivery of public safety services.