A team of assessors from the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFA) will arrive in early August to examine all aspects of the department including policies and procedures, management, operations and support services.
Currently the Sanford Police Department is accredited through CFA, and last went through the process of accreditation in 2007. Although the accreditation only last three years, the department was granted an extension because of the move made to the new Public Safety Complex on Historic Goldsboro Boulevard.
For this year’s on-site assessment, the team will review written materials, interview individuals and visit offices and other places where compliance can be witnessed.
The assessment team is composed of law enforcement practitioners from similar agencies. The CFA Assessment Team Leader is Major Gary Robinson (retired), St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office. Other team members are Captain Amy Schmidt, Department of Environmental Protection, and Deputy Chief Rick Hawthorne, Gulf Breeze Police Department.
Once the commission’s assessors complete their review of the agency, they report back to the full commission, which will then decide if the agency is to receive accredited status.
Accreditation Program Manager Jane Noyes said the process will cost somewhere between $1,000 and $2,000.
Verification by the team that the department meets the commission’s standards is part of a voluntary process to gain or maintain accreditation – a highly prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence, Interim Chief Richard Myers said.
Accreditation also helps the community, chief and officers by providing standardized policies and procedures and increasing cooperation with other law enforcement agencies.
As part of the process, agency members and general public are invited to offer comments to the assessment team. A copy of the standards is available through Public Information Officer David Morgenstern at 407-688-5070 Ext. 6055.
For more information regarding CFA or to offer written comments about the Sanford Police Department’s ability to meet the standards of accreditation write: CFA, P.O. Box 1489, Tallahassee, FL 32302, or email to info@flaccreditation.org.