UB Police earn ‘gold standard’ of law enforcement recognition

UB Police have earned the approval of the Commission on Accreditation of Law Enforcement Authorities (CALEA), becoming the only police department in Erie County and one of five in the state to receive national accreditation.

This is the latest effort of the department to conduct itself according to professional standards and adhere to the highest professional standards, according to Police Chief Gerald W. Schoenle Jr. The prestigious accreditation organization—which Schoenle says is the “gold standard” of law enforcement accreditation—expressed strong praise for the department, its procedure and its personnel, calling the UB Police Department an “excellent example of professional law enforcement.”

“The University at Buffalo provides a full range of professional law enforcement services to their campus community,” according to the CAELA report summary. “The assessment team was especially impressed with the agency’s involvement in the campus community and the support the university shows for the agency.

“It was obvious that the professionalism and pride exhibited by every member we encountered contributes to the support they receive from the university.”

Schoenle says that “going through the accreditation process has made us a better police department and supports our mission to provide a safe and welcoming environment for students, visitors, faculty and staff to live, learn, work and play. In these changing times, it is imperative that police agencies do everything they can to respond to the safety concerns of our communities. The accreditation process is a great way for agencies to improve their operations by adhering to nationally known best practices. This was truly a great team effort by our department.”

Schoenle praises Lt. Scott Marciszewski, UB’s accreditation manager, who Schoenle says steered the department through the process, complying with all of the required standards representing the best policies and practices in law enforcement. Marciszewski and Assistant Chief Chris Bartolomei accepted the award on behalf of the department at the CALEA conference, held last month in Charleston, S.C.

The CALEA committee conducting the assessment described UB’s Police Department as “well-prepared” for this inspection. It found agency files “well-organized and well-documented.”

“The assessor found the agency to be in compliance with all applicable standards,” the report summary stated. “Performance activities were carried out in a timely manner and required reports and analyses were thorough and concise. Agency personnel were observed to be knowledgeable and professional at all times.”

The panel expressed special appreciation for Schoenle, singling out his dedication to the CALEA process and “using the process to improve the agency in any way possible because of the many reviews and analyses that are required.

“The assessment team found the University at Buffalo Police Department to be an excellent example of professional law enforcement. Agency personnel demonstrated this in every facet of their operations.”

UB Police was the first SUNY police department to become New York State-accredited in 2007 and now is the only university police department in New York State to achieve national accreditation through CALEA.