Skip to main navigation Skip to main content
Home
  Search
  Menu
  Search
  Menu
  • Enroll Today
  • Login
  • Language
    • English
    • Español
Shopping cart 0 items

Main navigation

  • About Us
    • About the Commission
    • Our Commissioners
    • Become Accredited
    • Join Us
    • CALEA Annual Reports
    • Contact Us
    • Mexican Delegates
  • Why CALEA
    • Benefits of Accreditation
    • Perspectives on Accreditation
    • Perpetual Action for Public Safety
  • Accreditation Programs
    • Our Programs
    • 5 Step Process
    • Accreditation Cost
    • Quick Guide to Accreditation
  • In The News
    • Announcements
    • Press Release
    • Featured Articles
    • Awards
  • Conference & Events
    • Event Calendar
    • Attend a Conference
    • Previous Conferences
    • Presentation Request Form
  • Education
    • Accreditation Manager Online Training
    • Webinars
    • Tools & Tutorials
    • Manual Subscriptions
    • Accreditation Manager Prerequisite Videos
  • Resources
    • Find a Regional Program Manager
    • Accreditation Support Networks
    • Accreditation Manager Certification
    • Accreditation Manager Recertification
    • Client Database
    • Peer-to-Peer Recruitment
    • Job Postings
    • Commission Proposals for Comment
    • CALEA Standards Development Recognition
    • W9 Request
    • Emblem Item Store

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Use of Force Policy a Plus for University Police

Use of Force Policy a Plus for University Police

by Gene B. Burton, Director of Public Safety
Ball State University Department of Public Safety
Muncie, Indiana

When the Ball State University Department of Public Safety started the accreditation process in 2005, like many departments, we felt we were doing a good job for our university community, but we wanted to be better. We felt accreditation would help us reach the next level. It has done that and more. The accreditation process provided a clear blue print for applying the best law enforcement practices and a comprehensive review process to insure we followed those practices. The department has been CALEA Law Enforcement Accredited since November 2007.

One best practice that has been identified as particularly effective for us is our use of force policy.  Through the accreditation process we were able to transform our use of force policy into an area of strength. All use of force incidents, which are clearly defined in policy, must be reported on a special Use of Force Form, in addition to the normal department reporting procedures. This form is then reviewed by the shift supervisor and forwarded to the department’s training coordinator for review to insure the incident is within department policy. That review is then forwarded to the chief of police for an administrative review.

This reporting and review procedure not only allows us to determine if the officers involved acted within policy, but it also allows us to review the techniques used in terms of officer safety. The review also allows us to identify officers who might need review of policy or refresher training. And finally, a comprehensive use of force incidents review is completed by our training coordinator annually and a report created. The report analyses a variety of information and the resulting information helps formulate future use of force training. This annual report has proven to be insightful and a valuable tool for the department.

While the number of use of force incidents has remained consistent from year to year, the number of officer injuries and citizen excessive force complaints has gone down. But perhaps the unintended plus to our use of force policy has been added credibility with our local media for being transparent with our use of force statistics.

Accreditation has been a very positive experience for the department. The university community has a high level of confidence in the department of public safety because we are an accredited law enforcement agency and our officers are valued and encouraged by the community support.

Main navigation

  • About Us
    • About the Commission
      • What is Accreditation
      • Our History
    • Our Commissioners
    • Become Accredited
    • Join Us
      • Become a Site-Based Assessment Team Member
      • Become a Certified Accreditation Manager
    • CALEA Annual Reports
    • Contact Us
    • Mexican Delegates
  • Why CALEA
    • Benefits of Accreditation
    • Perspectives on Accreditation
    • Perpetual Action for Public Safety
  • Accreditation Programs
    • Our Programs
      • Law Enforcement
      • Communications
      • Training Academy
      • Campus Security
    • 5 Step Process
      • Enrollment
      • Self-Assessment
      • Assessment
      • Commission Review Decision
      • Maintaining Accreditation
    • Accreditation Cost
      • Law Enforcement Accreditation: Cost
      • Public Safety Communications Accreditation: Cost
      • Public Safety Training Academy Accreditation: Cost
      • Campus Security Accreditation: Cost
    • Quick Guide to Accreditation
  • In The News
    • Announcements
    • Press Release
    • Featured Articles
    • Awards
  • Conference & Events
    • Event Calendar
    • Attend a Conference
    • Previous Conferences
    • Presentation Request Form
  • Education
    • Accreditation Manager Online Training
    • Webinars
    • Tools & Tutorials
      • CALEA Status Calculator
      • CIMRS
      • PowerDMS
      • Tools for Multiple Programs Accreditation
    • Manual Subscriptions
    • Accreditation Manager Prerequisite Videos
  • Resources
    • Find a Regional Program Manager
    • Accreditation Support Networks
    • Accreditation Manager Certification
    • Accreditation Manager Recertification
    • Client Database
    • Peer-to-Peer Recruitment
    • Job Postings
    • Commission Proposals for Comment
    • CALEA Standards Development Recognition
    • W9 Request
    • Emblem Item Store
CTA Icon: Computer CTA Icon: Computer hover Our Programs
Summer Conference Oklahoma City, OK July 26-29, 2023 Learn More Thumbnail
PAC Meeting
Mar 13, 2023 - Mar 13, 2023
NNEPAC

Stay Connected

Facebook Twitter Linked In

CALEA®
13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 160, Gainesville, VA 20155
Payment Remittance: Box 424064 Washington, DC 20042-4064
P: 703.352.4225  |  F: 703.890.3126  |  E: calea@calea.org

  •  Resources
  •  Contact Us
  •  Manual Subscriptions

© Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., CALEA® 2023. All Rights Reserved.

  • Footer Logo
  • Footer Logo
  • Footer Logo
  • Footer Logo
    • About Us
      • About the Commission
        • What is Accreditation
        • Our History
      • Our Commissioners
        • Commission at Work
      • Become Accredited
      • Join Us
        • Become a Site-Based Assessment Team Member
        • Become a Certified Accreditation Manager
      • CALEA Annual Reports
      • Contact Us
      • Mexican Delegates
    • Why CALEA
      • Benefits of Accreditation
      • Perspectives on Accreditation
      • Perpetual Action for Public Safety
    • Accreditation Programs
      • Our Programs
        • Law Enforcement
        • Communications
        • Training Academy
        • Campus Security
      • 5 Step Process
        • Enrollment
        • Self-Assessment
        • Assessment
        • Commission Review Decision
        • Maintaining Accreditation
      • Accreditation Cost
        • Law Enforcement Accreditation: Cost
        • Public Safety Communications Accreditation: Cost
        • Public Safety Training Academy Accreditation: Cost
        • Campus Security Accreditation: Cost
      • Quick Guide to Accreditation
    • In The News
      • Announcements
      • Press Release
      • Featured Articles
        • Protecting Lives: Comprehensively Addressing the Oath of Office
      • Awards
        • CALEA Agency Support Program (CASP)
        • Cotter Award
        • Bittner Award
        • President's Award
        • Tri Arc Award
          • CALEA TRI-ARC Awarded Agencies
        • Meritorious Award
        • Excellence Award
    • Conference & Events
      • Event Calendar
      • Attend a Conference
      • Previous Conferences
      • Presentation Request Form
    • Education
      • Accreditation Manager Online Training
      • Webinars
        • CALEA Conference Review Webinars
      • Tools & Tutorials
        • CALEA Status Calculator
        • CIMRS
        • PowerDMS
        • Tools for Multiple Programs Accreditation
      • Manual Subscriptions
      • Accreditation Manager Prerequisite Videos
    • Resources
      • Find a Regional Program Manager
      • Accreditation Support Networks
      • Accreditation Manager Certification
      • Accreditation Manager Recertification
      • Client Database
      • Peer-to-Peer Recruitment
      • Job Postings
      • Assessor Resources
      • Client Resources
        • Benefits for CALEA Accredited Agencies
        • Technology Discounts
      • Commission Proposals for Comment
      • CALEA Standards Development Recognition
      • W9 Request
      • Emblem Item Store
    • Enroll Today
    • My account
      • Log in
    • Login
  • CALEA Social Media
    • Stay Connected

      Facebook Twitter Linked In