News Flash

(Roanoke County, VA) July 10, 2015 – Roanoke County’s Emergency Communications Center (ECC) is seeking national reaccreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA). The center serves a vital function for Roanoke County—answering and dispatching the county’s 911 calls.

As part of the reaccreditation process, a team of assessors from CALEA will arrive at the Roanoke County Public Safety Center on July 19, 2015 to examine all aspects of the ECC’s policy and procedures, management, operations, and support services. The Assessment Team is composed of public safety practitioners from similar, but out-of-state agencies. The assessment team members are: Team Leader Danny Messimer, Marietta (GA) Police Department and Team Member Debbie Gailbreath, Sarasota County (FL) Sheriff’s Office Communications Center.

The reaccreditation program requires agencies to comply with standards in four basic areas: policy and procedures, administration, operations, and support services. The assessors will review documentation, interview individuals, and visit the ECC where compliance with CALEA standards can be observed.

As part of the on-site assessment, ECC employees and members of the community are invited to offer comments by calling (540) 597-0588 on Tuesday, July 21, 2015 between the hours of 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Comments will be taken by the Assessment Team. 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 the Roanoke County Emergency Communications Center at 5925 Cove Rd, Roanoke, VA 24019. The local contact is Interim Accreditation Manager Chelsea Hogan at (540) 777-8523.

Anyone wishing to submit written comments about the Roanoke County ECC’s ability to comply with the standards for reaccreditation may send them to the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. at 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320, Gainesville, Virginia 20155.

The Roanoke County Emergency Communications Center has to comply with 212 standards in order to obtain reaccreditation. Once the CALEA Assessors complete their review, they report back to the full Commission. The full Commission will then decide if the agency will be granted reaccreditation. Reaccreditation 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., you may contact the Commission at 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320, Gainesville, Virginia 20155; or call (800) 368-3757 or (703) 352-4225; or email calea@calea.org.