The Mt. Juliet Police Department has earned accreditation through the Tennessee Law Enforcement Accreditation Program (TLEA), the department announced Wednesday, Oct. 7.
The TLEA Accreditation Board approved the designation after an independent assessment of the department's policies, procedures, management, operations and practices, according to the department. The program is administered by the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police (TACP), which established it to promote professional standards across the state.
The effort took years. It continued through the tenures of several Mt. Juliet police chiefs, the department said. Officer Rob Ullrich led much of the day-to-day accreditation work, coordinating documentation and reviewing standards across the organization. Capt. Jason Brockman provided oversight throughout the process.
Police Chief Tyler Chandler said the accreditation adds a layer of external accountability for residents.
"This is important for our community because it adds another level of accountability," Chandler said in the department's release. "We are not simply saying that we operate professionally or that we follow strong practices. An outside review has examined our department and confirmed that those standards are reflected in how we actually operate."
Chandler credited the entire department, saying the achievement could not rest on one person or one leader. He singled out Ullrich and Brockman for carrying much of the workload but said every member of the organization contributed to meeting the standards.
The accreditation process examined policies, training, administration, documentation and organizational practices, according to the department.
@TylerJChandler: "Some moments as Chief mean a little more because you know how many people and how many years of work went into them. This is one of those moments. MJPD is now officially a TLEA Accredited Police Department."
TACP President and University of Tennessee Police Chief Sean Patterson attended the accreditation ceremony alongside Chandler, Brockman, Capt. Jacob Dean and Ullrich.
TLEA requires accredited agencies to maintain compliance and undergo future reassessments to keep their status, meaning the department's next review cycle is already on the horizon.
