Public comments are welcomed and encouraged

The Forsyth County 911 Center is scheduled for an on-site assessment as part of a program to achieve accreditation by verifying it meets professional standards. 911 Center Director Pat Giordano announced today that a team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) will arrive June 6, 2016 to examine all aspects of the Forsyth County 911 Center’s policy and procedures, management, operations and support services.

“Verification by the team that the Forsyth County 911 Center meets the commission’s state-of-the-art standards is part of a voluntary process to gain accreditation for recognition of public safety professional excellence,” Giordano said.

As part of the assessment, agency personnel and members of the community are invited to offer comments via telephone or mail. All comments must address the agency’s ability to comply with CALEA standards.

Persons wishing to offer written comments are requested to write: Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement, Inc. (CALEA), 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320 Gainesville, VA 20155. Those wishing to comment via telephone may do so by calling (770) 781-3087, ext. 5686 on Tuesday, June 7, 2016 between 1 and 3 p.m. Telephone comments are limited to 10 minutes.

A copy of the assessment standards is available at the Forsyth County Public Safety Complex, 3520 Settingdown Road in Cumming. The local contact is Jason Stover, who can be reached at (678) 455-8073.

The assessment team is composed of public safety communications practitioners from similar, but out-of-state agencies. The assessors will review written materials, interview individuals and visit offices and other places where compliance can be witnessed. Once the commission’s assessors complete their review of the agency, they will report back to the full commission, which will then decide if the agency is to be granted accredited status.

Accreditation lasts for three years, during which the agency must submit annual reports attesting continued compliance with assessed standards.

For more information regarding the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., call (703) 352-4225, email calea@calea.org or write them at their aforementioned address.