The Durham Emergency Communications Center (DECC) can add yet another international accreditation to its growing list as well as the distinction of being the only center in the United States - and abroad - to achieve three major accreditations.

The DECC has learned that it has been granted accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA). The accreditation program required the DECC to comply with state-of-the-art standards in four basic areas: policy and procedure, administration, operations, and support services.

According to James Soukup, director of the DECC, achieving the CALEA accreditation enhances his center's ability to provide overall public services in all aspects of communications. "CALEA accreditation strengthens an agency's accountability, both within the agency and the community, through a continuum of standards that clearly define authority, performance, and responsibilities," Soukup said. "With this latest accreditation, we are now the only center in the world to boast three major accreditations. This is truly a proud day for us and for Durham."

In addition to the CALEA accreditation, the DECC has also achieved the Emergency Medical Dispatch Center of Excellence accreditation, the highest distinction awarded by the National Academies of Emergency Dispatch, and the APCO Project 33 Certification for the DECC's training curriculum from the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials International, Inc.