The Citrus County Sheriff’s Office is seeking national reaccreditation for communications through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA).

During March 20-23, the Sheriff’s Office will undergo an on-site assessment in keeping with its bid for national reaccreditation through CALEA’s Public Safety Communications Accreditation Program (PSCAP).

Starting at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, March 21, at the Sheriff’s Office Emergency Operations Center, 3549 Saunders Way, in Lecanto, the agency will set up a static display of all its communications and emergency management equipment for inspection by the assessors and the general public. Sheriff’s Office personnel will be on hand to answer questions regarding the use and application of the specialized equipment on display.

As part of the on-site assessment, there also will be an opportunity for citizens to give public input on Monday, March 22, from 1 to 3 p.m., by calling 249-2846. A member of the PSCAP assessment team will answer this local telephone number and personally listen to callers’ comments regarding the Sheriff’s Office 911 Center.

elephone comments will be restricted to five minutes in length and should address the agency’s ability to comply with PSCAP standards. To review a copy of these standards, please contact the Sheriff’s Office public information officer, Gail Tierney, at 341-7460.

Anyone wishing to submit written comments about the ability of the Sheriff’s Office to meet PSCAP standards may send them directly to CALEA, 10302 Eaton Place, Suite 100, Fairfax, VA 22030-2215.

According to Capt. Doug Dodd, who oversees the Sheriff’s Office accreditation process, CALEA assessors are communications and law enforcement professionals from outside the state of Florida who are well versed in the national standards.

“While our agency has been state accredited since 2000, we were accredited nationally for the first time in 2007. Every three years we must prove our continued compliance with national standards to be reaccredited,” Dodd added.

The two-member PSCAP assessment team will include team leader Chief Phillip Crowell, Jr., of the Auburn Police Department, Auburn, Maine, and Undersheriff (Ret.) David M. Rocco, formerly of the Alexandria (Va.) Sheriff’s Office. During the four days they’re here, the assessors will review written policies and procedures, conduct interviews with communications personnel and tour facilities where compliance with PSCAP standards may be observed firsthand.

Sheriff Jeff Dawsy is a strong proponent of the accreditation process. Dawsy saiid national accreditation is vital to the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office because it increases the confidence of the community in its public safety communications officers.

“PSCAP accreditation clearly demonstrates that we are following nationally endorsed policies and operating procedures,” he added. “It not only sets high standards for my employees, but high expectations on the part of Citrus County’s citizens in terms of public safety communications.”