Public Safety Institute Undergoing Accreditation Assessment

A site-based assessment team from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA®), will arrive Dec. 2 to examine all aspects of the Polk State College Kenneth C. Thompson Institute of Public Safety policy and procedures, management, operations, and support services.

Verification by the team that the Polk State College Kenneth C. Thompson Institute of Public Safety 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 professional excellence.

As part of the assessment, agency personnel and members of the community are invited to offer comments by telephone during the public call-in session on Dec. 3. The public may call 863.669.2907 between the hours of 1 and 3 p.m. Telephone comments are limited to 10 minutes and must address the agency's ability to comply with CALEA Standards. A copy of the standards is available at the Polk State College Center of Public Safety. Local contact is Accreditation Manager Steve Bucklin at 863.669.2907.

Persons wishing to offer written comments about the Polk State College Kenneth C. Thompson Institute of Public Safety's ability to meet the standards for accreditation are requested to write: Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement, Inc. (CALEA®),13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320 Gainesville, Virginia 20155.

The Polk State College Kenneth C. Thompson Institute of Public Safety must comply with 145 standards in order to maintain accredited status. Accreditation is for four years, during which the agency must submit annual reports and participate in annual remote web-based assessments attesting continued compliance with those standards under which it was initially accredited.