Columbia County issued the following announcement on Oct. 26.
P U B L I C N O T I C E
Beginning November 15, 2021, a team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) will conduct a virtual assessment of the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and Communications Center. The assessment will review policies and procedures, management, operations, and support services.
The accreditation process recognizes professional excellence achieved by proving compliance with CALEA standards which represent best practices in the field of law enforcement and public safety communications. Accredited agencies undergo periodic assessments to verify their continued commitment to the process and the standards.
An accreditation status lasts for four years. To maintain accreditation status, an agency must submit annual reports proving continued compliance with those standards under which they were originally accredited, as well as new standards that are included as a result of emerging trends in the community and the law enforcement profession.
Typically, at this stage of the accreditation process, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and Communications Center would host assessors for an on-site assessment. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this assessment will be conducted virtually. The public may offer comments to CALEA assessors through the methods listed below:
There will be a Public Call In Session for the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center on Monday, November 15, 2021 between the hours of 4:00 P.M. and 6:00 P.M. The telephone line, (706) 541-8448, will provide the caller with direct access to the CALEA assessor.
There will be a Public Call In Session for the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday, November 16, 2021 between the hours of 1:00 P.M. and 3:00 P.M. The telephone line, (706) 541-8448, will provide the caller with direct access to the CALEA assessor.
The Public Hearing for the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office will be held via a WEBEX meeting, and will begin at 3 P.M. Interested agency employees and the public are invited to offer comments by joining the WEBEX meeting via the following link: https://www.columbiacountyso.org/divisions/calea. Additionally, a quiet meeting space in the Columbia County Justice Center will be available to accommodate any members of the public who wish to attend the virtual meeting there.
Comments are limited to 10 minutes in length and must address the agency's ability to comply with CALEA standards. Those wishing to review the standards may contact the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement, Inc. (CALEA) via its website at https://www.calea.org/contact-us.
Anyone wishing to submit written comments about the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office’s ability to comply with the standards of accreditation may mail them to the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc., 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320, Gainesville, VA 20155.
Original source can be found here.
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