Law Enforcement Accreditation at MUPD 

The University of Missouri Police Department chose to voluntarily undergo the intensive scrutiny and peer review required by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) in order to document to the students, faculty, staff, and the community served that this department is dedicated to the finest standards of law enforcement procedures and community service.  On March 24, 2001, MUPD was officially accredited at a CALEA ceremony in Greensboro, North Carolina.

On March 20th, 2004 the department was re-accredited before the CALEA commission in Pasadena California and on November 18, 2006 the department was re-accredited for a second time in Reno Nevada.

A summary of the assessment team's final report is listed in the following:

“The University of Missouri Police Department is a well organized progressive police agency committed to providing the community that makes up the University of Missouri with the best law enforcement services possible,” said Dean Tondiglia, assessment team leader. “Under the direction of Chief Watring, the agency has developed an open communications policy with the community, which has resulted in an outstanding relationship with the community. This is a testament to the confidence the chief has in the agency’s high quality personnel.”

“The on-site assessment revealed a department committed to the accreditation process. The team felt the agency was one of the best prepared agencies they have ever encountered. Files were well constructed and complete, and personnel were well prepared and professional.  The team found only a few minor issues that were resolved easily and had no real bearing on the overall on-site assessment. The University of Missouri Police Department is truly a model accredited law enforcement agency that knows its mission and is committed to achieving it. The University of Missouri is well served by the agency and can rely on them in times of need. At this time the agency is in compliance with each of the required standards and the team highly recommends the University of Missouri Police Department for re-accreditation.”

• Accreditation demonstrates the commitment of the agency to professionalism in terms of adherence to a body of national standards.
• Accreditation enhances community understanding of the law enforcement agency's role, as well as its goals and objectives.
• Accreditation assures the community that its law enforcement agency is committed to the provision of services of the highest quality and that its policies and procedures are effective and responsive on the one hand, and fair and equitable on the other.
• Accreditation commits the agency to a broad range of programs of direct benefit to the public (e.g., community crime prevention), as well as programs to cope with man made or natural disasters.
• Accreditation promotes community cooperation and understanding.