Staff reports
The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office received its fifth Law Enforcement Accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) on July 27, 2024.
CALEA Accreditation provides evidence of the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office commitment to professional excellence in leadership, transparency, services, performance, and community trust and engagement.
The process of CALEA Accreditation begins with a rigorous self-assessment, requiring a review of policies, practices, and processes against internationally accepted public safety standards. This is followed with an assessment by independent assessors with significant public safety experience.
Additionally, public feedback is received to promote community trust and engagement. Structured interviews are conducted with select agency personnel and others with knowledge to assess the agency’s effectiveness and overall service delivery capacities.
The decision to accredit is rendered by a governing body of 21 commissioners following a public hearing and review of reporting documentation.
The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office has been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) in its law enforcement services since July 31, 2010. The Sheriff’s Office Communications Center, which handles 9-1-1 calls for the county, has been accredited by CALEA since November 5, 2016.
Since June 17, 2011, the Sheriff’s Office Forensic Services Laboratory has been accredited in Forensic Chemistry (Controlled Substances) and Forensic Biology (DNA) by the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) and the FBI Quality Assurance Standards for Forensic DNA Testing Laboratories.
