Public Comment Portal

CALEA has a public comment portal to receive comments regarding our agency’s compliance with CALEA accreditation standards, engagement in the service community, delivery of public safety services and overall candidacy for accredited status. If you would like to leave commendations or concerns, please use this link to do so https://cimrs2.calea.org/485

The intent of the accreditation feedback process is to gather information to provide the Onondaga County Department of Emergency Communications (911) with support needed for continuous improvement and foster the pursuit of professional excellence. [Standard 2.6.8]

Public Safety Communications Accreditation

The Onondaga County Department of Emergency Communications remains accredited through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) and Training Program certified through the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO). Accreditation shows the public, as well as the agencies we serve, that we are committed to pursuing a course of excellence in our daily operations.

Commission for the Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies

The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) has developed a comprehensive accreditation program for public safety communications centers. The CALEA Public Safety Communications Accreditation Program provides emergency communication centers with a process to systematically review and internally assess its operations and procedures. CALEA verifies standard compliance in seven key areas: Organizational Structure, Direction and Supervision, Human Resources, Recruitment, Selection and Promotion, Training, Operations and Critical Incidents, Special Operations and Homeland Security. Once accredited, an agency must demonstrate continued compliance with all applicable standards.

Originally accredited in 2001, the Department of Emergency Communications has continued to successfully maintain accredited status. Each accreditation cycle covers a four-year period with annual compliance reviews required. The Department of Emergency Communication’s sixth Reaccreditation with Excellence was awarded in March 2021. The CALEA Accreditation with Excellence Award recognizes agencies for the effective use of accreditation as a model for the delivery of enhanced public safety services and management professionalism. The Department of Emergency Communications is scheduled for our seventh reaccreditation review in November 2024. The achievement of CALEA accreditation signifies that our agency is meeting the highest national standards for public safety communication centers.

The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) Training Program Certification

The APCO Project 33 Agency Training Program Certification is a formal mechanism for public safety agencies to certify their training programs as meeting APCO American National Standards (ANS). The primary objective of the Agency Training Program Certification is to advance the training and professional development of public safety communications officials through the certification of an agency’s training program.

Building and implementing a successful agency training program requires many resources and a good deal of dedication. Submitting for certification demonstrates our agency's commitment to training and to meeting national standards. Receiving certification for our training program is a major accomplishment for the agency, our staff, and the community we serves.

The Department of Emergency Communications received our initial APCO Training Program Certification in 2019 and are currently preparing for recertification in 2024. APCO Training Program Certification covers a three-year period.