ISU Public Safety accredited by ICOPA

Idaho State University’s Public Safety has become accredited by the Idaho Chiefs of Police Association. That means the university is the only one in the state with an accredited police force.

Steve Chatterton, director or Public Safety, said his office has always been very professional and held to the standards set forth by ICOPA. He said now it’s just official.

“The accreditation we received speaks specifically to the types of things that the association expects that police officers in the state of Idaho will do,” Chatterton said.

Chatterton said with eight officers in Pocatello and one each in Meridian and Idaho Falls, their force is lean but effective. He said many of the Public Safety officers are either in the law enforcement academy, freshly graduated or working for Public Safety while attaining a higher degree.

“They come out of the law enforcement academy meeting all of the requirements for post-certification,” he said.

ISU is the only university in Idaho with this accreditation, joining 57 other accredited police forces in the state. There is a list of 94 standards police forces have to meet in order to become accredited.