Commissioner Marlon C. Lynch, Michigan State University’s vice president for public safety and chief of police, has been appointed the chairperson of the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., or CALEA, Board of Officers.
CALEA was created as a credentialing authority and is currently made up of 21 members — 11 law enforcement practitioners and 10 individuals that represent the public and private sectors. Lynch and his fellow commissioners have backgrounds ranging from local, state/provincial and international law enforcement and public safety organizations to business, academia, the judiciary and state/provincial and local government.
Lynch has served as a CALEA commissioner since 2016 and as of Jan. 1 will act as chairperson of the Board of Officers.
“It is an honor to have been chosen to serve as chairperson of this organization,” said Lynch. “CALEA is respected for its promotion of safety and professionalism in police work, and I am honored to act as a representative for them and for MSU.”
Lynch was named vice president for public safety and chief of police of the Michigan State University Department of Police and Public Safety, or DPPS, in the spring of 2021. Since then, he has aided in the progression of the safety and overall well-being of the Spartan community by placing emphasis on community engagement; diversity, equity and inclusion; relationship violence and sexual misconduct; professional standards and public integrity; and behavioral support services.
To do this, Lynch oversaw an adjustment of the structure of MSU DPPS to meet community needs to better represent the priorities of campus. This reorganization aligned with recommendations from MSU’s Task Force on Racial Equity and Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct Strategic Plan.
Lynch also created the Community Engagement Unit, which aims to foster trust-based relationships with the university’s diverse community. In 2022, the department revamped the Citizen's Police Academy for students, staff, faculty and community members to improve understanding of public safety practices on campus.
“The main purpose of DPPS is to work to ensure the safety and security of everyone on MSU’s campus,” said Lynch. “In order to do this, it is important to prioritize diversity, equity and inclusion to build healthy relationships of trust with all communities.”
By maintaining these focuses, DPPS is able to uphold the department’s 2022-2025 strategic plan.
These examples are two of the many reasons why Lynch was selected as chairperson for the CALEA Board of Officers. As the gold standard in public safety, CALEA prioritizes community relationship-building and maintenance and the continuous pursuit of excellence through annual reviews and other assessment measures.
The leadership and excellence Lynch and the other newly appointed CALEA officers have demonstrated help to ensure that the organization continues to meet its mission of promoting professionalism within the field of public safety.
