Reaccreditation Highlights Police Department’s Commitment to the Community

The UC Davis Police Department has once again earned accreditation through the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators, or IACLEA, a distinctive recognition held by a select group of police departments nationwide. IACLEA accreditation signifies a campus law enforcement agency’s ongoing commitment to excellence in public safety and service.  

For the UC Davis Police Department, the reaccreditation process offers a chance to assess its services and build a roadmap for the future.

“Almost every program that we have is a result of our community giving us feedback,” said UC Davis Police Chief Joe Farrow. “We get feedback from the Police Accountability Board and our online surveys, and we're always working to improve. It’s an ongoing effort.”

Policies set by Aggies, for Aggies 

The process of reaccreditation requires dedicated attention to ensuring the department maintains up-to-date policies in accordance with new laws and best practices. It involves external audits, compliance documentation and community feedback to prove that the department meets or exceeds professional standards established by IACLEA.  

At the UC Davis Police Department, a dedicated team of civilian staff, all UC Davis alumni, oversees standards and ensures compliance with policies and procedures. 

“Our policies are written by Aggies, for Aggies,” said Farrow. “They understand the campus culture and know how they would like to see the police department serve this community.”  

Many other staff members and sworn officers are also UC Davis alumni, which helps to ensure that the department’s values mirror those of the university and support a positive experience for other Aggies. 

A department committed to excellence 

To maintain accreditation, members of the UC Davis Police Department must learn, apply, and demonstrate compliance with more than 200 standards of practice over a multi-year process. They train, receive feedback and hold each other accountable through a shared commitment to excellence.  

“These standards impact everyone — not only patrol, but also dispatch, investigators and professional staff — and how they do their jobs,” Farrow said. “If anyone doesn’t do their part, it will fall apart.” 

Adapting to meet the needs of the community 

The reaccreditation process requires the police department to continually evaluate their services, which has helped them invest their resources to better support students, faculty, staff and visitors and strengthen safety and engagement across both campuses. 

In 2021, guided in part by the initial IACLEA accreditation, the police department launched the CORE officer program, part of a larger tiered response model on the Davis campus. This program has since grown from one officer to four, with two K-9 officers, who conduct outreach, respond to non-emergency calls for service, and strengthen relationships with members of the UC Davis community. 

At the UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, the police department has increased the availability of safety escorts and added security cameras in parking structures for the safety of students, employees and visitors.  

Similarly, security has increased on the Davis campus with more security cameras, emergency call boxes and lighting installed, after receiving input from ASUCD, student groups, and annual community safety walks. The Safe Ride program has also continued to grow, with more than 48,500 rides this year. 

“Accreditation isn’t an endpoint,” Farrow said. “It’s a promise to keep learning, adapting and serving better every day.”