Arlington, Texas, Dispatch Services Re-Accreditation Process Starts Next Week

A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc., will arrive in Arlington on Saturday, March 24, to begin their examination of all aspects of the Arlington Dispatch Services Division's policy, procedures, management and operations.

As part of the on-site assessment, agency employees and members of the community are invited to provide public comment by calling 817-313-6392 from 8:30 a.m. to Noon, Tuesday, March 27. Telephone comments are limited to 10 minutes and must address the agency's ability to comply with CALEA's standards. The Arlington Dispatch Services Division must comply with a total of 219 standards in order to gain re-accreditation status. The standards are available online at www.arlingtontx.gov/dispatch_servicesor by making an appointment to view them in Dispatch Services by calling Accreditation Program Manager Dana Schell at 817-543-5913.

According to Communications Manager Jayme Cole, verification by the team that the Arlington center meets the Commission's state-of-the-art standards is highly-prized recognition of 911/Dispatch excellence.

"This is a process that means a great deal to us and the community at large," Cole said this week. "Gaining re-accreditation is our way of assuring the citizens and visitors to Arlington they can always count on 9-1-1 and Dispatch Services."

The assessment team is comprised of public safety communications officials from similar out-of-state agencies. The assessors are scheduled to review written materials, interview individuals, and visit offices and other places where compliance can be witnessed. The assessors are Deputy Chief Robert Schommer of the Huber Heights Police Department in Ohio and Julie J. Righter of the Lincoln Emergency Communications/911 Center in Nebraska.

When the Commission's assessors complete their review of the agency, they will report to the full Commission, which will decide if the agency is to be granted re-accreditation status.
Accreditation is current for three years, during which the agency must submit annual reports attesting to continued compliance with the standards under which it was initially accredited.
For more information about the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., call 1-800-368-3757 or 703-352-4225.

Written comments about the City of Arlington Dispatch Service's ability to comply with the standards for re-accreditation can be submitted to the following location: Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement, Inc. (CALEA), 10302 Eaton Place, Suite 100, Fairfax, Virginia, 22030-2215.