Accreditation agency wants feedback

A national accreditation team is seeking feedback from the community about the Columbia County Sheriff's Office Communications Center as part of the agency's assessment process.

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Assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies will arrive Saturday to start evaluating the communications center's policy and procedures, management, operations and support services.

The commission accreditation programs are designed to improve public safety with voluntary compliance to a set of established professional standards, according to its Web site.

"We have a pile of standards that we have to be in compliance with," said Andrea Jones, the sheriff's office accreditation manager. "We write policy around those standards for the agency (sheriff's office, communications center and Columbia County Detention Center) to comply with."

Sheriff's office employees and the pubic are invited to share comments about the communications center with the team of assessors by calling (706) 541-2839 between 1 and 3 p.m. Monday.

Telephone comments are limited to 10 minutes and must address the communications center's ability to comply with commission standards.

Written comments can be mailed to: Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc. (CALEA), 13575 Heathcote Blvd., Suite 320, Gainesville, VA 20155-6693.

"They'll (also) be observing the work of employees," Jones said, adding that the team will ensure that the personnel are in compliance with the 216 required standards through observation and reviewing written documentation.

The communications center is considered a size B agency, with 16 to 75 employees. The center became accredited in 2004 and was reaccredited in 2007.

Jones said the sheriff's office and detention center are accredited separately from the communications center.