CRESTVIEW — The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office has received its first reaccreditation award from the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation.
Following on-site inspections, numerous employee interviews and a thorough review of the agency’s documentation, the sheriff’s office still meets the commission's "highest standards of professionalism" since its accreditation in 2010.
The sheriff’s office met standards despite losing nearly 20 percent of its funding, or $5.6 million, since 2009 and increasing population in the county, commission assessors stated in their report.
The sheriff’s office has 1.45 sworn officers per 1,000 citizens. Last September, it eliminated 18 sworn officer and civilian positions to stay within the fiscal budget; 14 of those positions were occupied at the time.
"This reaccreditation is another proud milestone in our ongoing commitment to deliver the best law enforcement service possible to the citizens of Okaloosa County," Sheriff Larry Ashley said in a news release. "This is a testament to their dedication, professionalism, integrity and outstanding work ethic on every level. We should all take great pride in this team achievement."
Contact News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown at 850-682-6524 or matthewb@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbMatthew.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office reaccredited despite hardships