Members of the public welcome to offer comments
A team of assessors representing the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFA) will arrive on March 21 “to examine all aspects of the Sarasota Police Department’s policies and procedures, management, operations, and support services,” the agency announced this week.
The Police Department has to comply with numerous standards to receive accredited status, and many of those standards are “critical to life, health, safety issues, and best practices,” the release explains.
The accreditation manager for the agency is Marissa Moore, the release notes.
The CFA assessment team comprises law enforcement practitioners from similar agencies throughout Florida, the release points out. “The assessors will review written materials, interview individuals, and visit offices and other places where compliance can be observed,” the release adds.
As part of the process, Police Department members and the general public are invited to offer comments to the assessment team. A copy of the standards is available online at www.flaccreditation.org under the “Standard”’ tab, the release notes.
For more information regarding CFA, or if individuals wish to offer written comments about the Sarasota Police Department’s ability to meet the standards of accreditation, correspondence may be sent to CFA, PO Box 1489, Tallahassee, FL 32302. Emails may go to flaccreditation@fdle.state.fl.us.
After the assessors complete their review of the agency, the release explains, they will report to the full Commission, which then will determine whether the Police Department is to receive accredited status. “This verification by the team that the Sarasota Police Department meets the Commission’s standards is a highly prized recognition of professional excellence,” the release points out.
The Sarasota Police Department’s accreditation is valid for three years.