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CALEA Accreditation
The Lowndes County 911 Center is nationally accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). The Center received its initial accreditation award in July 2003. The 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.
The Center must be re-assessed every 3 years to ensure continued compliance with CALEA standards. Lowndes County 911 was the second 911 center in the state to be CALEA Accredited. We completed our second re-assessment in April 2009 and were recommended to be re-accredited. The 911 Center received its third award with CALEA in November 2009 in Salt Lake City, UT.
There are several benefits of being accredited. It requires the communications center to develop a comprehensive, well thought out uniform set of policies and procedures. CALEA standards provide the necessary reports and analyses a CEO needs to make fact-based, informed management decisions. They require a preparedness program be put in place so a communications center is ready to address natural or man-made unusual occurrences. It is a means for developing or improving up a center's relationship with the community or the agencies it services. Accreditation strengthens an agency's accountability, both within the agency and the community. It can limit a 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. CALEA Accreditation facilitates an agency's pursuit of professional excellence.
Lowndes County 911 is proud to be one of the few communications centers nationwide that is recognized as being CALEA Accredited. With the continued support from our County government, along with the agencies and communities we serve, we look forward to continuing to demonstrate our commitment to excellence!