Communications Accreditation

[ladymoonlite]

I haven't seen any discussion of this issue here. My agency is accredited and I'm involved with pre-assessing Communications agencies. Does anyone have strong feelings about what this does for us as professionals?

[MrJim911]

I've visited the CALEA site before to see what it does. I think it would be nice, but other than a plaque on the wall and alleged better defense against lawsuits I don't see many benefits. Not to mention your agency has to spit out several thousand dollars for an assessment fee. I think there are better, less expensive ways of proving our excellence. :)

[KYEMT325]

Kentucky has it's own accreditation process through the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council. After they come in and turn your headquarters upside down, then you get your plaque and recognition as an Accredited Law Enforcement Agency.

There are only like 2 CALEA accredited agencies in Kentucky, and that's like Jeffersontown PD in Louisville and the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Div. of Police in Lexington. From what I understand, CALEA accreditation is so expensive and time-consuming that it's really not worth it. The city of Louisville was CALEA accredited but decided to let their cert die last year because they were tired of it, plus it really didnt matter and Kentucky's cert is what really counts for agencies in this state, because without your KY accreditation, then you cannot receive your 3,100/year training incentive from the state.

[ladymoonlite]

KYEMT are you referring to Police Accreditation or Communications Accreditation?

[KYEMT325]

I'm referring to Police Accreditation which includes the Communications Division. It's a wholistic thing.

[ladymoonlite]

We were a part of an accredited police department, but have since achieved Communications Accreditation on our own. I'm proud to say that our city is the first to have the PD/FD/Commo TRIPLE CROWN of accreditation, as well!

Just my opinion, but I do feel that this process validates the profession. We all know that "dispatchers" (or whatever each of us prefers to be called) have been the proverbial red-headed stepchild of every PD/SO/SP and/or FD since we civilians took over from the sworn officers who were on light duty or being punished. I'm taking on a personal mission to change that, and I think that to some degree the CALEA standards are a step in the right direction.

Now I'll get off my soapbox
:D