The Anne Arundel Community College’s Department of Public Safety is internationally accredited through the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA). On September 26, 2008, it became the first community college in the country to receive this award from IACLEA.

The overall purpose of the accreditation program is to improve delivery of public safety service through compliance with 205 standards, developed by law enforcement and public safety practitioners, covering a wide range of up-to-date law enforcement and public safety topics. Accreditation is a coveted award that symbolizes professionalism, excellence, and competence.

IACLEA began in 1958 and currently represents over 1,200 colleges and universities located in twenty countries. Its purpose is to make college and university law enforcement and public safety departments more professional by providing educational resources, an accreditation program and professional development programs.

IACLEA partnered with the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. to create the IACLEA Accreditation Program.

The period of accredited status for the Department is three years.  During this time, the agency must submit annual reports that document continuing compliance with applicable standards. The achievement of accreditation for the department has resulted in improvements in structure, leadership, organization, general direction, and accountability. The process of intensive self-assessment has united the department in its commitment to serve the college community through well-written policies and procedures, objective management, and conscious recognition of the need for public safety professionalism.

Major Cleveland Smith 
AACC DPS Accreditation Manager

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