The staff members in the 911 center have been working toward this goal for about a year, said Jacksonville Public Safety Media Liaison Beth Purcell.
“This program is the primary method for our 911 Communications Center to voluntarily demonstrate its commitment to excellence,” said Public Safety Director Mike Yaniero.
The accreditation is through CALEA, or the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, and requires the 911 center to comply in seven areas: organization; direction and supervision; human resources; recruitment, selection, and promotion; training; operations; and critical incidents, special operations, and homeland security, according to a press release from Jacksonville Public Safety.
Achieving accreditation for the 911 center would support the center’s goals of reaching administrative and operational goals, better prepare the center for unusual occurrences, improve the center’s relationship with the community, strengthen their accountability, and continue their pursuit of professional excellence, among other goals, Yaniero said.
The center’s on-site assessment is planned for July 9 through July 11, but they won’t learn of the review and decision until CALEA’s annual conference in November, Yaniero said.
Midway through the on-site assessment, the people the center serves in Jacksonville are encouraged to call in for a phone session to discuss their opinions of how the 911 center complies with CALEA standards, according to a press release.
The phone lines will be open from 3 to 5 p.m. July 10 by calling 910-938-5051 and comments are limited to five minutes per person.
Those interested in looking over the CALEA standards prior to the phone calls can stop by the Jacksonville Department of Public Safety, located at 200 Marine Boulevard in Jacksonville, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday to pick up a copy of those standards, according to the press release.
If the 911 center achieves accreditation, Yaniero said that would mean all three aspects of Jacksonville Public Safety, including the fire and police departments, meet international accreditation standards.
Reporter Amanda Thames can be reached at 910-219-8467 or Amanda.Thames@JDNews.com
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