Media Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Julie Righter, Communications Coordinator
Lincoln Emergency Communications Center
575 S. 10th Street
Lincoln, Ne 68508
(402) 441-7252

Accreditation Assessment Team Invites Public Comment

(Lincoln, Ne) A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), will arrive April 26, 2008 to examine all aspects of Lincoln Emergency Communications Center's policy, procedures, management and operations, Communications Coordinator Julie Righter announced today.

Verification by the team that Lincoln Emergency Communications Center meets the Commission's state-of-the art standards is part of a voluntary process to maintain accreditation, "a highly prized recognition of public safety communications excellence", Coordinator Righter stated.

As part of the on-site assessment, agency employees and members of the community are invited to offer comments by calling (402) 441-7654 on Monday, April 28, 2008 between the hours of 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM

Telephone comments are limited to 10 minutes and must address the agency's ability to comply with CALEA's standards. A copy of the standards is available at Lincoln Emergency Communications Center. Local contact is Linda Thurber or Linda Flaherty, Co-Accreditation Managers, (402) 441-6000.

Persons wishing to submit written comments about Lincoln Emergency Communications Center's ability to comply with the standards for accreditation may send them to the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), 10306 Eaton Place, Suite 320, Fairfax, VA, 22030-2201.

"Lincoln Emergency Communications Center has to continuously comply with over two hundred rigorous standards in order to maintain accredited status", Coordinator Righter stated. Righter further explained that "accreditation provides official recognition of the dedication and hard work of the professionals at the Lincoln Emergency Communications Center who work tirelessly 24-hours a day, 7-days a week to assist our community in emergency situations".

The Accreditation Program Manager for Lincoln Emergency Communications Center is Stephen Mitchell. Mitchell stated the "assessment team is composed of communications and law enforcement practitioners from similar but out-of-state agencies". The assessors will review written materials, interview individuals, and visit offices and other places where compliance can be witnessed. The assessors are Team Leader Chief (Retired) Robin Geis, Dublin Division of Police, Dublin, Ohio and Communications Manager Ms. Zeta Fail of the College Station Police Department, College Station, Texas. "Once the Commission's assessors complete their review of the agency, they report back to the full Commission, which will then decide if the agency will maintain accredited status", Program Manager Mitchell stated.

Accreditation status is for three years, during which the agency must submit annual reports attesting continued compliance with those standards under which it was initially accredited.

For more information regarding the commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., please write the Commission at 10306 Eaton Place, Suite 320, Fairfax, VA 22030-2201; or call (800) 368-3757 or (703) 352-4225.