Tom Dowling
(863) 297-1051

PCC Achieves First in the Nation:
International Commission Awards Accreditation to Institute of Public Safety

03/22/2007: Polk Community College’s Kenneth C. Thompson Institute of Public Safety has become the first community college training academy in the nation to earn accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA). PCC’s Institute of Public Safety provides professional instruction and training for Polk County law enforcement, corrections and correctional probation officers.

PCC’s success in achieving Public Safety Training Academy Accreditation was announced March 17 by CALEA at its conference held in Greensboro, NC. Polk County Sheriff’s Office Captain Craig Smith, who serves as director of the Institute, was joined in North Carolina by Accreditation Manager Lynn Dombrowsky, PCC President Eileen Holden, and PCC Dean of Workforce Education Steve Hull, when the announcement was made. The commission provides credentialing services for law enforcement agencies, public safety communications entities and public safety training academies.

            Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, who spearheaded this initiative, was pleased upon learning of CALEA’s decision to grant accreditation to the Institute of Public Safety.

            “Polk Community College contracts with the Sheriff’s Office and local police departments to administer the Police Academy. This partnership was formed out of the desire to provide the most professional law enforcement and detention training in the nation,” said Sheriff Judd. “Attaining this very difficult CALEA accredited status affirms the professionalism of the academy and the benefit of our partnership with PCC. Our commitment to excellence has resulted in becoming the first police academy in the State of Florida and the first community college academy in the nation to earn this prestigious status.”