Faced with recruiting and retention challenges, and increased service expectations, Michael Mezhberg has set a roadmap for seeking accreditation for his 911 Emergency Communications Center aimed at addressing both issues.
The Center for Homeland Defense and Security Emergence Program alum (Cohort 2302), who serves as Assistant Section Chief for the Southeastern Massachusetts Regional 011 District including the Southeastern Massachusetts Regional Emergency Communications Center (SEMRECC), is currently implementing his change initiative entitled “SEMRECC and the Road to Accreditation: Achieving the Gold Standard in Public Safety Together.”
Mezhberg’s initiative calls for attaining accreditation from The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) for SEMRECC using an action plan developed during the Emergence Program. He said accreditation will help his agency adapt to the development of the emergency communications profession and provide advancement and growth opportunities within his agency.
“911/Emergency Telecommunications is a young profession; however, the expectations and demands of services expected from 911 have grown,” Mezhberg said. “At the same time, 911 has faced the same staffing problems that the public safety community as a whole has faced. Throughout my participation in Emergence, I adapted my change initiative to find a way to meet the needs of the agency while incorporating an advancement opportunity for communications officers.”
Mezhberg said his CHDS educational experience “taught me the power of collaboration with agencies and organizations. I was able to work with individuals representing a wide span of the homeland security enterprise. Their contributions to my experience in the program and to my change initiative were invaluable. I have high praise for the Emergence Program and the skills it taught me. It really solidified my role in homeland security.”
As for progress on his initiative, he said he presented a detailed action plan to his agency leadership, which approved it, and he has been working on assignments for an accreditation team charged with assisting in policy development and other key tasks in the quest to achieve the CALEA Communications Accreditation.
Eventually, Mezhberg said, he will offer the agency’s communications officers the opportunity to join the team, will provide training for the team, and work toward the goal of achieving accreditation. The team will ultimately be responsible for reviewing standards against existing policies, identifying and rectifying existing gaps, and assisting in accreditation file maintenance in the short-term and the long-term, he said.
“It’s not a direct promotion, but it is an opportunity to do something different. It’s not necessarily for everyone, but it is an opportunity to put it on a resume for advancement to supervisor.”
Moving forward in his career, Mezhberg said CHDS “also taught me a systematic approach to solving complex problems, which is a skill that I will use throughout my career. I learned how I can effect change ‘from where I stand’ in my agency. My educational experience will not only benefit my agency with the current change initiative but will also play a major part in future initiatives within my agency.”
