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COMMISSION ON ACCREDITATION FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES
COMMUNICATION STANDARDS
The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc.,
(CALEA®) was created in 1979 as a credentialing authority through
the joint efforts of law enforcement's major executive associations.
The purpose of CALEA’s Accreditation Programs is to improve the
delivery of public safety services, primarily by: maintaining a body
of standards, developed by public safety practitioners, covering a
wide range of up-to-date public safety initiatives; establishing and
administering an accreditation process; and recognizing professional
excellence.
The CALEA Public Safety Communications Accreditation Program
provides a communications center, or the communications unit of a
public safety agency, with a process to systemically review and
internally assess their operations and procedures. Since the first
CALEA Communication Accreditation Award was granted in 1999, the
program has become the primary method for a communications agency to
voluntarily demonstrate their commitment to excellence. The
standards upon which the Public Safety Communications Accreditation
Program is based reflect the current thinking and experience of
public safety communications executives and accreditation experts.
APCO International (Association of Public-Safety Communications
Officials International, Inc.), the leading communications
membership association, was a partner in the development of CALEA’s
Standards for Public Safety Communications Agencies© and its
Accreditation Program. This relationship continues today as APCO
recognizes the achievements of CALEA Accredited Public Safety
Communications agencies and supports accreditation.
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CALEA Accreditation requires the communications
center or unit to develop a comprehensive, well thought out uniform
set of written directives. This is one of the most successful
methods for reaching administrative and operational goals, while
also providing direction to personnel.
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CALEA Accreditation standards provide the necessary
reports and analyses a CEO needs to make fact-based, informed
management decisions.
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CALEA Accreditation requires a preparedness program
be put in place – so a communications center is ready to address
natural or man-made unusual occurrences.
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CALEA Accreditation is a means for developing or
improving upon a communications center’s relationship with the
community or the agencies it services.
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CALEA Accreditation strengthens an agency’s
accountability, both within the agency and the community, through a
continuum of standards that clearly define authority, performance,
and responsibilities.
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Being CALEA Accredited can limit a communications
center’s liability and risk exposure because it demonstrates that
internationally recognized standards for public safety
communications have been met, as verified by a team of independent
outside CALEA-trained assessors.
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CALEA Accreditation facilitates an agency’s pursuit
of professional excellence.
The City of Arlington Dispatch Services was awarded
its initial accreditation in July 2004 from the Commission on
Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). There are 216
mandatory and other-than-mandatory standards. Agencies must comply
with all mandatory standards and 80% of the other-than-mandatory
standards and must reaccredit every three years. If
you would like to find out more on CALEA, visit their website at
http://www.calea.org/ |
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