HYDE PARK — The University of Chicago Police Department’s tactics policies have earned high marks from a national accreditation commission.
On Monday, the university said it had received Advanced Law Enforcement Accreditation recognition from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.
“The assessment team found the agency to be a progressive and motivated police department with a genuine devotion to the diverse community that they serve,” the final review of the private 100-officer force says.
Student and community groups had opposed the accreditation in April, claiming the university police fell short of the transparency and accountability standards required of all police.
"They may live up to [the commission's] standards, but they do not live up to the standards of any public police force," said Ava Benezra, a leader of the Coalition for Equitable Policing and a fourth year law, letters and society student at the university.
She said she felt the reviewers did take the groups concerns seriously, but it was difficult to determine if any changes were made because the university police's policy is not public.
"Achieving this accreditation is recognition that our police department aspires to provide the highest quality services to our community,” said Marlon Lynch, chief of police at the university.
The accreditation is for three years. The recognition is honorific and provides the police with no additional rights or responsibilities.
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