Alachua County Sheriff's Office

Accreditation Program

The Alachua County Combined Communications Center became one of the first two Public Safety Communications Centers in Florida to achieve accredited status. Alachua County and Polk County were the first two Florida Communications Centers to become accredited, receiving the award on the same date in March 2002.

The following paragraphs are excerpts from the CALEA web site at www.calea.com.

“The accreditation program for public safety communications agencies is a joint effort of the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA®), and the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials-International (APCO®)."

In 1996, CALEA and APCO combined resources to develop a voluntary accreditation program specifically for Public Safety Communications Agencies. APCO contributed communications leadership, technical expertise, a pool of highly qualified and experienced communications executives to develop standards, and a source of program on-site assessors. CALEA was the source of accreditation expertise with a developed accreditation process, a base of administrative and communications standards, and the independent neutral body to administer the program.

APCO is the world’s oldest and largest not-for-profit professional organization dedicated to the enhancement of public safety communications. Its mission is to promote governmental cooperation and foster the development of public safety communications through research, planning, training, and education. APCO has an Executive Council made up of representatives of each chapter and the corporate community. The Board of Officers is comprised of four elected APCO active members and the Executive Director, who is a non voting member. The Executive Director manages the headquarters staff and operations.

What is Accreditation?

The components of an accreditation program include professionals, who act with discretion, in the public trust, to standards set by experts in the field. An independent process is designed to implement the standards, verify compliance and award recognition. With the communications accreditation program, telecommunicators with special knowledge and experience established voluntary standards before other, often less qualified groups, seek to do so.

Accreditation is a coveted award that symbolizes professionalism, excellence, and competence. Accredited agencies can take pride in their department, knowing it represents the very best in public safety communications.