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Public Safety Communications Accreditation Support
Network
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
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, possibly less qualified groups, sought 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.
Determining Agency
Eligibility
Participation in the Communications Accreditation Program is
restricted to:
* Legally constituted governmental
entities with a mandated responsibility to provide
public safety communications services (stand alone
agencies)
* Component departments of public
safety agencies that provide communications services
* Private agencies with mandated
public safety communications responsibilities, whose
eligibility is determined on a case-by-case basis by the
Commission.
Compliance Size and Costs
Agency size determines both what standards are
applicable and the program participation fees. For
stand-alone agencies, size is defined as the total
number of authorized full-time personnel. For
communications services that are a part of another
organization (e.g., fire, law enforcement, or EMS) size
is the number of full-time personnel assigned to the
communications function, plus one:
A (1-15
personnel)
B (16-75)
C (76+)
There is a provision for a "unique" agency that because of its
mission, size, location, or other factors may not fit
the paradigm.
Agencies that seek accreditation are
required to comply only with those standards that are
specifically applicable to them. Applicability is based
on an agency's size and the functions it performs.
Applicable standards are categorized as mandatory or
other-than-mandatory. Agencies must comply with all
applicable mandatory (M) standards and 80% of applicable
other-than-mandatory (O) standards. If an agency cannot
comply with a standard because of legislation, labor
agreements, court orders, or case law, waivers can be
sought from the Commission.
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