This weekend the Department of Public Safety will begin a process of reaccreditation, according to DPS officials.

The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies first accredited DPS in 1998. Accreditation lasts for three years, said Jerry Stewart, associate director of public safety.

The department is now trying to receive reaccreditation, meaning it complies with about 400 standards set by the commission, he said.

Stewart said the process for being accredited is not an easy one. It includes several lengthy processes, such as a self-assessment where “the department employees gather proofs of compliance, conduct training and modify written policies,” he said.

The department is also examined by three members of the commission, Stewart said. The members arrived this week to examine written policies, inspect equipment and facilities, interview employees and officials and hold a public informational meeting 7 p.m. Monday in the Scheman Building’s Benton Auditorium.

Director of Public Safety Loras Jaeger said he encourages students to attend the meeting and give input. “This is an opportunity for the public to meet before the board to address the group on some of the issues they are concerned with,” he said.

Accreditation is in DPS’s “vital interest” and shows the quality of the agency, Stewart said.”Being accredited insures that the department and its operations meet or exceed national professional standards,” he said.

Stewart said receiving accreditation is an honor because only 30 universities out of about 500 accredited agencies gain this title.

“Accreditation seems as a yard stick by which department operations may be measured,” he said. “For us, it’s a prestigious symbol of commitment.”

Jaeger said there is no guarantee DPS will be reaccredited.

Stewart said he is confident with the department and its potential for reaccreditation. “We’re looking forward to the team’s reviews,” he said. “We will certainly be accepting of any recommendations they might make.”