A team of assessors from the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFA) will arrive on March 2, 2016, to conduct an on-site assessment of the UCF Police Department.

This review is part of the department’s re-accreditation process, which includes examination of its policies, procedures, management, operations, support services, and compliance with about 260 standards.  Many of the standards are critical to life, health, and safety issues.  Copies of the standards can be obtained by calling 407- 823-5007.

Preparedness is the key to keeping yourself safe, UCFPD Ofc. Peter Stephens explained to the women attending a self-defense class hosted by the department Tuesday night.

“A lot of times you’re not paying attention to what’s going on, and women are often the targets of this type of activity, so we want to make them as well-prepared as we possibly can,” said Ofc. Stephens, a member of the police department since 2010. Mental and physical readiness are key to empowerment, he said.

With the new semester under way, I share a few updates on behalf of the UCF Police Department.

On Nov. 16, UCF emailed you about a sexual battery that took place at Knights Circle.

UCFPD diligently investigated the incident and on Dec. 25 arrested Edward Santana Thorpe for lewd or lascivious battery of a minor. Neither Thorpe nor the victim have any UCF affiliation. However, Thorpe was staying at Knights Circle with his girlfriend.

About 15 UCF police officers on Friday received training on how to administer Naloxone, which can counter the effects of a drug overdose.

Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that when injected can counter drugs such as heroin, displacing them from the body and brain and reversing their potentially deadly effects.

By 2016, all UCFPD officers will have received training on how to recognize an overdose and administer Naloxone. Officers on shift will carry the drug with them.

A grant made a donation of 150 doses to UCF possible.

With Thanksgiving this week and the holiday season around the corner, the UCF Police Department reminds you to keep safety top of mind.

If you will be away from UCF during the holidays, make sure to take expensive items such as jewelry, laptops and other valuables with you. Have a friend or trusted neighbor collect any mail, packages or newspapers, or ask the U.S. Postal Service to hold your mail until you return.

The UCF Police Department is joining agencies across the country in a Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement wave that will go through Nov. 30.

Starting this week, UCFPD is stepping up enforcement and will issue citations to drivers and passengers who are not wearing a seat belt. The campaign is tied with Thanksgiving, when more activity on the roads means greater risk.

Seat belts can help prevent serious injuries during accidents and ultimately save lives. The simple step of buckling up makes roads safer for everyone.

Students will learn about the risks associated with alcohol and driving during a DUI expo to be held Wednesday, Nov. 18.

The expo will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. near the Recreation and Wellness Center. The event, organized by the UCF Police Department, will include several demonstrations to educate students about how alcohol, drugs and distraction affect their abilities.

With Halloween approaching, I remind you to pay extra attention to safety.

As a Knight, you have a responsibility to remain vigilant about your safety and to look out for each other.

Keeping you safe is our responsibility as well, and UCF Police officers will be taking extra steps to protect our community this weekend.

Additional staffing will be dedicated to looking out for impaired drivers, underage drinking, fake IDs and other dangerous partying behavior.

Though each’s path to the badge has been different, five police officers on Monday became united in their mission to protect and serve the University of Central Florida.

The officers were joined by family, friends, UCF Police Department leadership and staff, and others from the UCF community for a swearing-in ceremony.

Members of the UCF community can hand over unused, unwanted and expired prescription drugs with no questions asked Thursday, Sept. 24.

UCF’s 6th-annual Drug Take Back Day will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. inside the Student Union.

The event, led by the UCF Police Department and Student Health Services in cooperation with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, gives people an opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by properly disposing of potentially dangerous drugs.