Benedictine Police Dept. recognized for its efforts to make campus safer

The Benedictine University Police Department has been awarded “First Place” in the College/Campus Police category of the 2014 Illinois Traffic Safety Challenge sponsored by the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police (ILACP) Traffic Committee.

This is the second time in three years the Benedictine Police Department has been awarded first place by the ILACP in the organization’s traffic safety challenge.

“This honor is a reflection of the Benedictine Police Department ’s commitment to ensuring the safety of everyone who visits campus – students, faculty, staff, parents, friends and members of the community,” said Charlie Gregory, executive vice president of Benedictine University. “The professionalism and preparedness of the officers and the department as a whole are unmatched.”

The Benedictine Police Department is committed to traffic safety on and around campus, particularly regarding occupant protection, speed and impaired driving enforcement. The department achieves its goals through high visibility, traffic education and diligent enforcement, among other ways.

The department also believes that traffic enforcement and crime deterrence go hand-in-hand. The combined efforts of the Benedictine police, the campus’ Emergency Response and Recovery Team and safety-conscious faculty, staff and students have consistently made Benedictine one of the safest universities in the state and country, according to campus safety and security reports filed with the U.S. Department of Education.

“We commend Benedictine’s commitment to safety in its community,” said Scott Kristiansen, director of the Illinois Traffic Safety Challenge on behalf of the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police. “The University’s efforts serve as an example to other agencies as we continue our work to make Illinois safer.”

Several of the Benedictine Police Department’s crime prevention, crime reduction and community policing initiates have been recognized by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board, which invited Police Chief Mike Salatino to speak on the topic of campus safety at a conference of state officials, law enforcement and criminal justice practitioners held in May in Naperville.

Salatino’s presentation, “Building Partnerships While Reducing Campus Burglaries and Alcohol Disorder,” addressed initiatives to reduce crime on college campuses and progressive measures to address student misconduct.

“The credit for these acknowledgements must go to our police officers, community service officers and emergency dispatchers for their dedication and professionalism as they continue to strive to ensure a safe environment for our campus community,” Salatino said.

The Benedictine Police Department was established in 2006 and was the first private law enforcement agency in Illinois to receive accreditation through the Illinois Law Enforcement Accreditation Program (ILEAP).

Benedictine police officers collectively have more than 200 years of law enforcement experience and training, are Illinois-certified and have full police powers including arrest. Their mission is to provide resources to ensure a safe campus environment and improve the quality of life within the University community.