Public invited to comment by phone or email on Tuesday, August 23
The Schoolcraft College Police Department strives to be a leading agency, which is why it will welcome a team of assessors from the Michigan Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission (MLEAC) on Monday, August 22. This group will examine all aspects of the Schoolcraft College Police Department policies and procedures, management, operations, and support services.
Verification by the team that the Schoolcraft College Police Department meets MLEAC’s best-practice standards is part of a voluntary process to achieve accreditation, a highly prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence. The department must comply with 105 standards in order to achieve accredited status.
Currently, out of 571 police agencies in the state of Michigan, only 47 are accredited; Schoolcraft College would be only the fourth college/university police department to achieve that status.
“Accreditation results in greater accountability within the agency, reduced risk and liability exposure, stronger defense against civil lawsuits, increased community advocacy, and greater confidence in the agency’s ability to operate efficiently and respond to community needs,” Chief Mark Engstrom said.
The Schoolcraft College Police Department, which operates 24 hours a day every day, consists of:
- A police chief
- A lieutenant
- Three sergeants
- An office manager
- Eight full-time officers
- Seven part-time officers
- A detective
- Four full-time Intelligence Operations Center technicians
- A part-time technician
Invitation to comment
As part of this final On-Site Assessment, employees and members of the general public are invited to provide comments to the Assessment Team. They may do so by telephone or email. The public may call 734-462-4688 on Tuesday, August 23, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Email comments can be sent to [email protected].
Telephone comments are limited to five (5) minutes and must address the agency’s ability to comply with the Commission’s standards. A copy of the standards is available for inspection at the Schoolcraft College Police Department, 18600 Haggerty Road, Livonia, MI 48152. The police department is in the lower level of the Jeffress Center, and office hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please contact Chief Mark Engstrom at 734-462-4424 with any questions.
The Accreditation Program Manager for the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police is Ret. Chief Neal Rossow. “The assessment team is composed of law enforcement practitioners from similar Michigan law enforcement agencies,” Rossow said. “The assessors will review written materials, interview agency members, and visit offices and other places where compliance with the standards can be observed. Once the assessors complete their review of the agency, they will report to the full Commission, which will then decide if the agency is to be granted accredited status.”
Anyone wishing to offer written comments about the Schoolcraft College Police Department’s ability to comply with the standards for accreditation is requested to email the Accreditation Program manager at [email protected] or write the Michigan Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission at 3474 Alaiedon Pkwy, Suite 600, Okemos, MI 48864.
Accreditation is valid for a three-year period during which time the agency must submit annual reports attesting to their continued compliance with those standards under which it was initially accredited.
The MACP, through its Michigan Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission, is the legitimate authority and accreditation agency in the state of Michigan. For more information regarding the Michigan Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission, please write the Commission at: MACP, Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission at 3474 Alaiedon Pkwy, Suite 600, Okemos, MI 48864 or email at [email protected].