Full Notification

Sheriff Ron Hickman announced today that a team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) will arrive August 2, 2015 to examine all aspects of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office Communications Division’s policy and procedures, management, operations and support services.

Sheriff Hickman maintained that verification by the team of the Communications Division’s compliance with the Commission’s state-of-the-art standards is part of a voluntary process to gain accreditation – a highly prized recognition of public safety communications professional excellence. The Communications Division was previously successful in accrediting under these standards in 2006, 2009, and 2012, Sheriff Hickman said.

As part of the on-site assessment, agency employees, public safety entities and members of the community are invited to offer comments by calling 713-755-4812 on Tuesday, August 4, 2015 between the hours of 1:30pm – 3:30pm.

Persons wishing to offer written comments about the Communications Division’s ability to meet the standards for accreditation are requested to write: Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), 13575 Heathcote Blvd, Suite 320, Gainsville, VA 20155.

A copy of the standards is available at the Communications Division at 1301 Franklin Street, Houston, Texas 77002. Local contact is Ms. Traci Mullins at 713.755.9558.

The assessment team is composed of public-safety communications practitioners from similar but out-of-state agencies. The assessors will review written materials, interview individuals, and visit offices and other places where compliance may be witnessed

The assessors are: Team Leader Mr. Bob Morgan of Mississippi and Mr. Thomas Nesko of Washington. 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 is to be granted continued accreditation status for the next three years