A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), Inc. will arrive virtually on Monday, July 20, to examine all aspects of Valley Communications Center’s policies, procedures, management and operations at its 911 Kent center.

Verification by the team that Valley 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,” said Executive Director Lora Ueland in a media release.

Valley Communications Center’s 911 service area focuses on South King County and spans from Seattle’s southern border to a few blocks south of the Pierce County line and from Vashon Island to the foothills of the Cascade Mountain Range. The center handles 911 calls for the Kent, Renton, Auburn and Federal Way police departments.

As part of the on-site assessment, agency employees and members of the community are invited to offer comments by calling 253-372-1540 on Monday, July 20, between the hours of 10 a.m. to noon. Comments will be taken by the asse9ssment 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 Valley Communications Center.

Persons wishing to submit written comments about Valley 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), 13575 Heathcoat Boulevard, Suite 320 – Gainesville, Virginia 20155.

“Valley Communications Center has to continuously comply with over 200 rigorous standards in order to maintain accredited status,” Ueland said.

Ueland further explained that “accreditation provides official recognition of the dedication and hard work of the professionals at Valley Communications Center who work tirelessly 24-hours a day, 7-days a week to assist our community in emergency situations.”

Mark Mosier, the Accreditation Program manager for Valley Communications Center, said the asessment 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 virtually. The assessors are Team Leader Brad Frazier, Support Services Commander (NC) and Team Member Michelle Provencher, Supervisor (NH).

“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,” Mosier said.

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