City of Arlington Dispatch Services Division has become the second public safety communications agency in Texas to earn national accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc.

Arlington Dispatch Services is among approximately 30 communications centers in the nation to successfully complete the accreditation program. Communications Manager Jayme Cole and Communications Supervisor T.K. Ivie formally accepted the accreditation award on July 31 in Buffalo, N.Y.

C.A.L.E.A. was established in 1979 by four law enforcement associations as an independent accrediting authority. Since 1985, the commission has been accrediting law enforcement agencies and started a new process in 1999 of accrediting public safety communications centers.

The purpose of accreditation is to improve the delivery of law enforcement services by offering a body of standards developed by law enforcement practitioners and covering a range of policies.

The Arlington Dispatch Services Division answers 9-1-1 calls for the city and dispatches police, fire and contracted EMS services. For accreditation, the center was required to meet 216 standards, representing best practices for communications centers, Cole said.

Agencies meeting those standards have demonstrated excellence in their policies, procedures and operations. Compliance was scrutinized during an on-site visit conducted in January 2004 by a team of assessors.

"This accomplishment is a reflection of the caliber of employees in this department and their professionalism and dedication to public safety communications," Cole said.