Group to assess 911 call center

The Columbia County Sheriff's Office is seeking public input during the triennial assessment of its 911 dispatch center.

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An assessment team for the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc. was to arrive Saturday to examine the sheriff's office's Communications Center, including policy and procedures, management, operation, and support services.

"They will review files, interview personnel, ride with the deputies and sit upstairs in the Communications Center," said Lt. Pamela Goddard, the office's accreditation manager.

As part of the on-site assessment, agency employees and members of the community can provide comments to the assessment team. The public can call (706) 541-4060 Tuesday between 1 and 3 p.m.

Telephone comments are limited to 10 minutes and must address the agency's ability to comply with commission's standards. A copy of the standards is available at the sheriff's office in Appling.

Those who want to offer written comments about the sheriff's office Communications Center's ability to meet the standard for accreditation are asked to write to Commission for Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc., 10302 Eaton Place, Suite 320; Fairfax, VA 22030-2201.

The commission is a volunteer organization composed of members from the International Association of Chief's of Police, National Sheriff's Association, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives and the Police Executive Research Forum.

The organization has established a voluntary process of accreditation based on a list of standards the group feels is essential for proper law enforcement.

A favorable commission assessment is a highly respected recognition of law enforcement excellence.

"It is strictly a voluntary thing that the sheriff decides he wants to improve the services that we give the county and this is the way that we do it," Goddard said.

She said the Communications Center must meet 155 of the organization's 216 mandatory standards and at least 80 percent of 61 voluntary standards.

When the assessors complete their review of the agency, they report back to the full commission, which will then decide if the agency will be accredited. The Communications Center earned its initial accreditation in 2004.

Accreditation occurs every three years, during which the agency must submit annual reports showing continued compliance with the standards.