 Briefing Room |
 Chief's Office |
Striving For Excellence
Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation
The Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation, Inc.(CFA) selected the Fort Lauderdale Police Department as one of ten pilot agencies to undergo the accreditation process. Set to the same professional tone as accreditation programs required for schools, universities, and hospitals, the law enforcement accreditation program is recognized as a means of maintaining the highest standards of professionalism.
The accreditation certificate is awarded by an independent reviewing committee who conducts an on-site evaluation of the agencies policies, procedures and practices. The agency must meet hundreds of specific requirements and proscribed standards. The criteria--or standards--by which agencies are measured specify what should be addressed in agency policies and procedures. The standards evaluate all facets of an agency including administration, internal affairs operations, investigations, patrol, personnel, prisoner and court security, traffic, use of police force, and more.
The Certificate of Accreditation is awarded for a three year period.
Attaining accredited status demonstrates to the community that an agency is committed to maintaining the highest standards of professional law enforcement service. Fully compatible with the community policing philosophy, accreditation encourages greater cooperation and communication between citizens and law enforcement.
Starting in May, 1996, the Fort Lauderdale Police Department worked toward accredited status. We amended or added more than 100 policies and procedures in order to comply with the required 244 standards.
On April 21, 1998, three law enforcement professionals from the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation came to FLPD. For three days the assessors scrutinized and inspected our police department including our policies, procedures, physical plant, security, records, and much more. After an exhausting examination, the team of assessors revealed they would recommend to the Commission that we be awarded accredited status.
On May 27th, 1998, in a ceremony at a regular Commission meeting, the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation awarded the Fort Lauderdale Police Department our hard-earned Certificate of Accreditation.
Achieving accreditation through the Commission on Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation will demonstrate our continuing commitment to professionalism and excellence in the Fort Lauderdale Police Department.
Commission chairman Bill Berger presents Chief Brasfield with our Certificate of Accreditation
L to R Sgt. Robitaille, Det. Wright, Capt. Perez, Chief Brasfield, Chairman Berger, CFA Exec. Dir. Kyser
In 2000, the accreditation team took on a new look with the addition of two new members and the promotion of one of the previous team members. Jim Wright received his well-deserved sergeant stripes and remained in the office. Detective Dennis Salsberry gave up his slot in the Marine Patrol and took Sergeant Wright's desk. Detective Allan Lerner transferred from Patrol to complete the team. The office was comprised of four members.
On March 21, 2001, a team of three CFA assessors began a three-day assessment of the Fort Lauderdale Police Department for re-accreditation. During the initial accreditation assessment in 1998 the Department was required to prove that Department policies met the standards established by the Commission. During re-accreditation the Department had to show that the policies were indeed being followed. This was done in several ways: Police reports and other documentation of policy compliance; a static display of department vehicles and equipment; and a tour of the Department’s facilities including the Evidence/Property section, the Communications Center, SID, CID, and IA. The assessors determined that the Department complied with 100% of the mandatory standards and an astounding 96.92% of the non-mandatory standard. (The Department elected to not comply with four standards requiring Job Task Analysis’s). The assessors recommended that the Fort Lauderdale Police Department be re-accredited. At the Accreditation Conference in Clearwater on May 23, 2001 we received our prestigious and highly prized Re-Accreditation Certificate from the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation.
If there is one constant in Law Enforcement it is that nothing stays the same for long. After the re-accreditation assessment the longest term member of the team, Jay , requested and was granted a transfer to the Support Services Bureau. Also, the CFA has developed the 3rd Edition of the Accreditation Standards which took effect in May 2001. The Staff Inspections Office is diligently working towards the next re-accreditation assessment for 2004.
Fla-PAC meets three times a year around the state. During the meetings new information regarding the process is passed along to accreditation teams. Information sharing is big part of the conference as is file review. In addition, it is the Fla-PAC that provides assessors for mock inspections.
The Fla-PAC established a web site in July 1997. This site will help provide accreditation managers and teams with links to other agencies involoved in the accreditation process. It will help make the entire process less of a paper-chase.
Briefing Room |
Chief's Office |
