As I have reported before, the BCSO is working toward accreditation through CALEA ~ the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies. CALEA is supported by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the National Sheriffs’ Association, the Police Executive Research Forum and the National Organization of Black Law Executives.

It has always been the goal of the BCSO to provide honest, fair and professional law enforcement services to the citizens of Bradley County, while managing resources effectively to prevent and reduce crime. CALEA accreditation is another step toward upgrading, modernizing and enhancing the professionalism and effectiveness of the BCSO.

CALEA accreditation provides  greater accountability, helps control liability insurance costs, offers a more formidable defense against frivolous civil lawsuits, encourages greater support from government officials and increases community advocacy. The process of accreditation is gradual,  as it requires us to evaluate each BCSO policy and procedure to ensure compliance with CALEA’s high standards and their mission of supporting and enhancing professional law enforcement.

At each of our weekly command staff meetings, accreditation manager Capt. Jim Hodgson presents updates to BCSO policy based on his research into CALEA requirements. Each step in the process is discussed and reviewed by the command staff, with everyone offering input. It has been a great  cooperative effort. The process itself is timeconsuming and can take several years to successfully complete, but when you consider the benefits of accreditation  ~ establishing a clearly defined model so citizens and deputies alike will understand policy and procedure, with no second guessing or questions after the fact ~ it is only reasonable that we move in a deliberate and prudent manner. Even so, I feel we have made excellent progress since beginning the selfassessment process last year.

Upon completion of the self-assessment phase, we will have two remaining phases to complete: on-site assessment and a final Commission review. During the onsite assessment phase, a team of law enforcement professionals will conduct an onsite visit to review BCSO policies and procedures. The final commission review will be just that ~ CALEA’s Agency Review Committee will hold public hearings regarding BCSO compliance with applicable standards.

Once accreditation is granted, the BCSO will enter the final accreditation phase of maintaining compliance with the established CALEA standards, which are based on the size of the BCSO and the functions we perform.

Standards are defined by nine primary categories: 1). Role, responsibilities and relationships with other agencies, 2). Organization, management and administration, 3). Personnel structure, 4). Personnel process, 5). Operations, 6). Operational support, 7). Traffic operations, 8). Prisoner and courtrelated activities, and 9). Auxiliary and technical services.

Public safety concerns today are much different than at any other time in our nation’s history. Even ten years ago, I don’t think anyone could have foreseen the rapid advance of technology, the threat of global terrorism, uncertainty on Wall Street and in the housing market, high fuel and food costs, increased gang activity, illegal immigration and other modern day concerns. To meet these challenges we have to be proactive and competitive.

Public safety is the vanguard of national and local security, and law enforcement must be on the cutting edge of societal and technical change in order to meet these challenges head on. CALEA accreditation is a giant step toward the BCSO’s mission of providing the best in law enforcement services for the citizens of Bradley County.

If you would like to reach the BCSO administrative office, call (423) 728-7300. You can also write to us here at the Justice Center, or visit in person. We are located at 2290 Blythe Avenue, Cleveland, TN 37311. If you would like to reach me directly, email me: comments@bradleysheriff.com.