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The CCSO Communications Bureau has
earned its first accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law
Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). Pictured from left, CALEA Executive Director
Craig Hartley, Communications Bureau Manager Nicholas McFadden, Communications
Bureau Director Chris Gonzalez, Sgt. Nicole Minick, Communications Bureau
Technical Manager Bob Finney III, Communications Bureau Supervisor Melanie
McFadden, and CALEA Commissioner Richard Myers.
The Collier
County Sheriff’s Office Communications Bureau has been awarded its first Public
Safety Communications Accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation for
Law Enforcement Agencies Inc. (CALEA).
In order to
achieve accreditation _ a highly prized recognition of law enforcement
professional excellence, the CCSO Communications Bureau was required to
demonstrate full compliance with 212 state-of-the-art performance standards. Compliance
with the performance standards was verified through a file review and on-site
assessment by a CALEA-certified public safety practitioner in April. The public
was invited to offer comments in writing or by telephone about CCSO’s ability
to meet the standards.
Communications
Director Chris Gonzalez noted that while the Communications Bureau was
preparing for the accreditation process, telecommunicators were simultaneously
transitioning to a new computer aided dispatch (CAD) system. The Bureau also had
recently completed the conversion to a new 911 system.
“This
required a significant amount of training and patience,” Director Gonzalez
said. “This is an incredible feat and a true testament to the dedication and
professionalism of the hardworking men and women of the Communications Bureau.”
The CALEA
accreditation performance standards focused on four areas of responsibility:
policy and procedures; administration; operations; and support services.
CALEA
accreditation requires a communications enter to develop a comprehensive and
well thought out uniform set of written directives. It also requires a
preparedness program be put in place, so a communications center is ready to
address natural or manmade unusual occurrences.
Accreditation
is for three years, during which the Sheriff’s Office must submit annual
reports attesting to continued compliance with those standards under which it
was reaccredited.
Since the
first CALEA Communications 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 Public
Safety Communications Accreditation is one of five accreditations currently
held by the Collier County Sheriff’s Office. The CCSO also is accredited by:
* Commission
on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc. (CALEA) – Law Enforcement
* Commission
on Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation
* Florida
Corrections Accreditation Commission
* National
Academy of Emergency Medical Dispatch
