Guilford Technical Community College police force becomes first in North Carolina to earn top accreditation
Published on: March 3, 2026
Guilford Technical Community College’s police department recently became the first community college police department in North Carolina to be accredited by the North Carolina Law Enforcement Accreditation (NCLEA) program.
The accreditation is a voluntary statewide program that establishes professional standards for law enforcement agencies across North Carolina.
“Achieving NCLEA accreditation affirms our unwavering commitment to professionalism, accountability, and continued improvement,” said Gene Sapino, chief of the GTCC police department. “Our officers work every day to co-produce campus safety in partnership with our students, faculty, and staff. This accreditation demonstrates that GTCC campus police meets the highest standards of law enforcement in North Carolina.”
GTCC is the second higher education police department statewide to receive the accreditation. There are only 16 accredited police departments across the state.
“This achievement reflects GTCC’s ongoing commitment to excellence, accountability, and service to our students, faculty and staff,” said GTCC President Anthony Clarke, Ph.D. “Safety is a number one priority across all of our campuses, and this accreditation affirms that commitment.”
The GTCC police department has 31 employees that serve five campuses and a conference center.
Agencies that achieve NCLEA accreditation demonstrate a commitment to professionalism, ethical conduct, and continuous improvement. The accreditation process includes a comprehensive review of policies, operations, and compliance with state-recognized standards
GTCC’s accreditation was announced at the February 20 meeting of the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission.
Back to All Articles