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Communications Center Accreditation
The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (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 its 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 its 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. The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials International (APCO), 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.
CALEA accreditation standards provide the necessary reports and analyses an executive needs to make fact-based, informed management decisions. It is a means for developing or improving upon a communications center’s relationship with the community or the agencies it services and facilitates an agency’s pursuit of professional excellence. It also strengthens an agency’s accountability, both within the agency and the community, through a continuum of standards that clearly define authority, performance, and responsibilities. Last, accreditation requires a preparedness program be put in place so a communications center is ready to address natural or man-made unusual occurrences.
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.