The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies has awarded the Hamilton County Emergency Communications District “Reaccreditation with Excellence” following its annual assessment and operations review.
Hamilton County’s ECD earned its initial CALEA accreditation in 2013, reaccreditation in 2016 and now “Reaccreditation with Excellence” through a standard on-site accreditation assessment.
With this most recent reaccreditation, effective Nov. 13, the ECD remains one of only seven Tennessee emergency communications agencies to be granted national accreditation through CALEA.
CALEA accreditation is a voluntary program designed to improve the delivery of public safety services by maintaining a body of standards developed by public safety practitioners and establishing and administering an accreditation process.
The CALEA accreditation process begins with a self-assessment requiring a review of policies, practices and processes against internationally accepted public safety standards. An independent assessment by those with significant public safety experience follows.
Following a public hearing and review of all reporting documentation, a governing body of 21 commissioners then renders the decision to accredit or reaccredit. Once accredited, an agency must maintain compliance throughout the four-year accreditation award cycle.
Hamilton County’s ECD provides emergency communications services to the citizens of Hamilton County through its 911 service and to 26 local public safety agencies.
Source: Hamilton County ECD