URBANA – The University of Illinois Department reaffirmed its Tier II accreditation status this summer after an extensive review by the Illinois Law Enforcement Accreditation Program (ILEAP).

ILEAP accreditors visit the department periodically to complete an exhaustive review of the department’s policies and practices to ensure it meets each of 180 evaluation criteria. The evaluators last reviewed the University of Illinois Police Department in 2012 and gave the department their highest (Tier II) accreditation level.

At the time, the University of Illinois Police Department was the only campus department in the state which attained the Tier II status, and that status was renewed this summer.

“The accreditation process ensures that we’re serving our community in the best way possible,” said U. of I. Police Deputy Chief Tony Brown. “This renewed accreditation affirms that our department is up to date on best practices for police departments in the state of Illinois.”

The Tier II accreditation was officially issued July 14 after an evaluation process spanning several months.

“The ultimate goal here is to provide efficient, professional service to our campus community,” Brown said. “We provide all the services of a traditional police department, with some additional services uniquely-tailored to a university environment. We want to be sure we’re doing that in the best way we can.”