SHALIMAR — A team of assessors from the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation will arrive April 26 to examine all aspects of the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office’s policies and procedures, management, operations, and support services, Sheriff Larry Ashley stated in a media release.
The OSCO has to comply with approximately 90 standards to get accredited status. Since the agency is nationally accredited by the Commission for Law Enforcement Accreditation, it only has to comply with the CFA standards unique to Florida. Many of the standards are critical to life, health and safety issues.
As part of the on-site assessment, agency members and the general public are invited to offer comments to the assessment team.
A copy of the standards is available through Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office’s Public Information officer in Shalimar at 651-7410.
For details regarding CFA or for persons wishing to offer written comments about OSCO's ability to meet the standards of accreditation, write to CFA, P.O. Box 1489, Tallahassee, Florida 32302, or email to info@flaccreditation.org.
The accreditation program manager for Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office is Inspector Bob Norris, who said the assessment team is composed of law enforcement practitioners from similar agencies.
The assessors will review written materials; interview individuals; and visit offices and other places where compliance can be witnessed.
The CFA assessment team leader is Special Agent Tim Elder, Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Other team members are Master Police Officer Eric Wels, Altamonte Springs Police Department; and Officer Charles Willdigg, Kissimmee Police Department.
Once assessors complete OSCO's review, they report back to the full Commission, which will decide its accreditation status.
The accreditation lasts three years and is part of a voluntary process to gain or maintain accreditation, a highly prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence, Sheriff Ashley stated.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office seeks public comments for accreditation