The Schoolcraft College Police Department is once again undergoing the accreditation process and needs the public’s help.
The department first received Accredited status in 2022, this status is valid for a three year period and is an important step in maintaining high standards of safety, organization and transparency at the federal, state and local level.
But what exactly does this accreditation mean, and why is it so important to our campus community?
Accreditation is a process that allows the department to be evaluated whether it’s meeting high standards when it comes to training, procedures, and safety. According to Schoolcraft Police Lt. Matthew Mayes, who manages the accreditation process for Schoolcraft, emphasized that while it is not required, accreditation reflects a commitment to excellence.
“We don’t have to do this. There’s no punishment if we don’t. But it makes our Schoolcraft community trust us more and know that we’re going above and beyond to put out a good product.”
On July 22, a team of assessors from the Michigan Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission (MLEAC) are coming to campus to take a closer look at how the police department operates and evaluate whether the department still meets the more than 108 required standards. Assessors will review documents, interview staff, and tour the department’s spaces to make sure everything meets accreditation standards.
Since their first accreditation, one of the most significant impacts of this accreditation has been the improvement in officer training. Accreditation has helped the department evolve to better serve a diverse campus.
“It gave us a better organization,” Mayes said. “The educational piece was huge for us to get our training aligned with all those requirements.”
As part of the visit, public feedback is a key part of the process. Students, staff, faculty and members of the general public will have the opportunity to provide feedback by telephone or email.
The public may call 734-462-4474 between the hours of 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. In addition, email comments can be sent to p[email protected].
This feedback would be anonymous, telephone comments are limited to five 5 minutes and must address the agency’s ability to comply with the Commission’s standards.
“It’s just quick, you could send an email. You know, you could do it through a SCAware and just say, please forward this and leave that anonymous,” said Mayes “We’re up for any constructive criticism.. But that’s what it’s there for..
Schoolcraft College’s Police Department isn’t just working to meet expectations, they are striving to exceed them. Through accreditation, they showed a strong commitment to transparency, accountability and trust. By staying accredited and inviting the community for feedback, the department continues to prove that safety and service go hand in hand.
