Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw recently announced that a team of assessors from the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFA) will arrive July 13 to examine all aspects of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office policies and procedures, management, operations and support services.
The PBSO has to comply with approximately 250 standards in order to receive accredited status. 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 by sending an e-mail request to cfaaccreditation@pbso.org. For more information regarding the CFA, or for persons wishing to offer written comments about the PBSO’s ability to meet the standards of accreditation, write to: CFA, P.O. Box 1489, Tallahassee, FL 32302, or e-mail to info@flaccreditation.org.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Accreditation Program is under the command of Col. John Prieschl of the Department of Professional Compliance. Prieschl 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 Matthew Fletcher of the Naples Police Department. Other team members are Cody Whiddon of the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Charles Willdigg of the Kissimmee Police Department and LaFayetta Hodges of the Ocala Police Department.
Once the commission’s assessors complete their review of the agency, they will report to the full commission, which will then decide if the agency is to receive accredited status.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office accreditation is valid for three years. Verification by the team that the PBSO 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.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office was initially accredited by CFA in 2000 and reaccredited in 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015 and 2018.
In 2015 and 2018, the PBSO was awarded accreditation with “excelsior” status, representing more than 15 years of professionalism and excellence in law enforcement. This assessment represents the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office’s third re-accreditation as an excelsior agency.
