COLUMBIA – The team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA ®), will arrive April 11 to examine all aspects of the South Carolina Department of Public Safety (DPS) policy and procedures, administration, operations and support services.

“This is part of a voluntary process for the department to gain re-accreditation,” said SCDPS Director Leroy Smith. “CALEA accreditation is a coveted recognition among public safety professionals, and we are pleased to once again be part of this process.” 

For the first time, the SC Department of Public Safety is participating in the Gold Standard Assessment (GSA), which focuses primarily on processes and outcomes associated with standards specific to agency policies.  The GSA works to measure the impact of accreditation as opposed to simply confirming compliance through a file-by-file review. 

As part of the on-site assessment, agency employees and members of the community are invited to offer comments at a public information session on Tuesday, April 12, 2016, at 6 p.m.  The session will be conducted at the South Carolina Department of Public Safety conference room located at 10311 Wilson Blvd., Blythewood.  If for some reason an individual cannot speak at the public information session but would like to provide comments to the assessment team, s/he may do so by calling 1-800-868-3613 on Wednesday, April 13, 2016, between the hours of 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.   

Telephone comments are limited to 10 minutes and must address the agency’s ability to comply with CALEA’s standards.  A copy of the standards is available by contacting Ms. Vickie Wise at 803-896-8093 with the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, 10311 Wilson Boulevard, Blythewood, SC.

Persons wishing to offer written comments about DPS’s ability to meet the standards for accreditation are asked to write:  Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement, Inc. (CALEA ®), 13575 Heathcote Boulevard, Suite 320, Gainesville, Virginia, 20155.

The South Carolina Department of Public Safety includes the Highway Patrol, State Transport Police, Bureau of Protective Services, Office of Highway Safety and Justice Programs, Immigration Enforcement Unit and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame. Our mission is to ensure public safety by protecting and serving the people of South Carolina and its visitors.