The Northeastern Illinois University Police Department has been unanimously recognized by the Illinois Law Enforcement Accreditation Program (ILEAP) and was awarded full accreditation status at the Tier 1 level during a Feb. 3 ceremony on the Main Campus. Northeastern is only the third public university police department in Illinois to receive accreditation through the ILEAP.
The law enforcement accreditation system establishes a uniform set of professional standards for police agencies that are measureable and verified by an independent body.
“A police department that accomplishes the accreditation process creates accountability to the community, policy makers and the officers who are performing the day-to-day work, “ University Police Chief James Lyon Jr. said. “I am proud of the Northeastern Illinois University Police Department and the work we will continue to do in the future to serve our community with integrity, excellence and accountability.”
In a congratulatory letter to Lyon, Illinois Law Enforcement Accreditation Council Chairperson David Bradford commended the Department’s leadership and level of professionalism among its members.
Officers of the University Police are academy-trained and certified in the same manner as all other public law enforcement officers in the state of Illinois. The department maintains a close working relationship with the Chicago Police Department, Illinois State Police, and other local and federal law enforcement agencies.
The accreditation, a program of the Illinois Chiefs Association, is renewed every four years.
Top photo: Officer Alvin Lopez (from left), Chief James Lyon, Sgt. John Schulz, Officer Alina Ignatoff and Lt. Paul Kruszynski hold the University Police Department’s Illinois Law Enforcement Accreditation Program award.
Above photo: Northeastern Illinois University’s ILEAP Accreditation Award
