Forsyth County’s 911 Center was recently awarded the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, or CALEA, Public Safety Communications Accreditation and recognized at a Board of Commissioners meeting.

The center was accredited during the regional CALEA conference held Nov. 5, but the recognition ceremony was held Dec. 15 at the BOC’s regular meeting.

“I am profoundly proud of the 911 Center employees and their dedication to making it possible for our Center to achieve such a prestigious recognition,” said the center’s director, Patricia Giordano.

CALEA accredits public safety agencies, including communications centers, by using a national body of standards developed by law enforcement professionals.

It “strengthens an agency’s accountability, both within the agency and the community, and can limit a communications center’s liability and risk exposure by demonstrating that standards for public safety communications are met,” a news release said.

This is the first time the 911 Center went through and received accreditation.

To be accredited, an agency must successfully complete five phases: enrollment, self-assessment, on-site assessment, commission review and decision and maintaining compliance.

The on-site assessment phase took place in June when a team of assessors visited the 911 Center, examining the center’s policies and procedures, management, operations and support services.

As part of the assessment, agency personnel and members of the community were encouraged to offer comments via telephone or mail.

The 911 Center will maintain its accreditation through 2020, at which time it may re-enroll in the accreditation process.