During 1997 the Department of Emergency Communications underwent our initial certification process by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA).   This certification process involved documenting compliance with CALEA standards for communication centers.  The process also involved undergoing an on-site audit by a CALEA representative to ensure that all the standards are being met.  This resulted in the Onondaga County Department of Emergency Communications receiving certified status from CALEA.  In doing so we became the first and only communications center in New York State and only the third in the nation to attain this honor.  The initial certification was valid for three years.

During 2000 the Department of Emergency Communications underwent a re-certification audit.  This audit once again required the Department of Emergency Communications to demonstrate that we are meeting the standards set by CALEA for communication centers.  Several years ago CALEA, in con junction with APCO (Associated Public Safety Communication Officers), developed a more thorough and comprehensive Accreditation process for stand alone 9-1-1 Centers.  The Accreditation standards are geared specifically for stand-alone communication centers such as ours.  The standards for Accreditation arte considerably more demanding than the standards for Certification.  During December 2001 the Onondaga County Department of Emergency Communications underwent an Accreditation audit.  The initial report by the CALEA assessment team found the 9-1-1 Center to be in compliance with CALEA standards and recommended the Onondaga County 9-1-1 Center for final review for Accredited status.

In March 2002, representatives from the Department of Emergency Communications attended the CALEA Annual Meeting.  At this meeting the final review of our application for Accreditation was conducted by the CALEA Commissioners.  After a review by the CALEA Commissioners the Onondaga County Department of Emergency Communications was granted Accredited status for a period of three years.  There are over 5300 public safety-answering points (PSAPS) in the United States and only 24 have earned this prestigious national honor.  In December 2004, the Department of Emergency Communications is scheduled for an on-site re-accreditation review by CALEA assessors.  Since our initial accreditation the Department of Emergency Communications has continued to stay current with the 216-accreditation standards issued by CALEA.  In December 2004 the Onondaga County Department of Emergency Communications underwent a Re-Accreditation audit.  The initial report by the CALEA assessment team found the 9-1-1 Center to be in compliance with CALEA standards and has recommended the Onondaga County 9-1-1 Center for final review for Re-Accreditation by the CALEA Commissioners in March of 2005.

On March 19, 2005 at the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Conference in Birmingham, Alabama, Commissioner Wisely, along with the Department of Emergency Communications Accreditation Manager Senior Shift Supervisor Jo-Anne Munroe and Accreditation Specialist Supervisor of Dispatch Operations Christopher Strong, appeared before a panel of CALEA Commissioners to answer questions relative to the On-Site review conducted at the Onondaga County Department of Emergency Communications Center.  As a result of the review and our presentation the panel voted to award our agency with accreditation for a 2nd time.  This 2nd accreditation signifies that our agency continues to comply with 216 national standards, which ensure that we provide the best professional service to the public we serve.