OCSO seeks public's input for reaccreditation by Commission for Florida Law Enforcement

SHALIMAR — The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office is inviting the public to offer comments about the agency’s policies and procedures to a team of assessors who will determine if the agency meets standards for accredited status in April.

The team of assessors from the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation will arrive April 19 to examine the Sheriff’s Office’s policies and procedures, management, operations and support services, according to an OCSO news release.

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The Sheriff’s Office has to comply with numerous standards that are critical to life, health, safety issues and best practices to receive accredited status. Inspector Robert Wagner will be the accreditation program manager for the OCSO.

The assessment team is composed of assessors from similar agencies who will review written materials, interview people, and visit offices where compliance can be observed.

Verification of standards is a part of a voluntary process to gain or maintain accreditation. The OCSO accreditation is valid for three years, and is considered a “highly prized recognition of professional excellence,” Wagner said in the news release.

As a part of the assessment, agency members and the general public are invited to offer comments to the assessment team. A copy of the standards manual is available on the CFA website at www.flaccreditation.org/ under the standards tab.

For more information regarding CFA or for anyone wishing to offer comments about the OCSO, correspondence can be sent to CFA, P.O. Box 1489, Tallahassee, Florida, 32302 or emailed to flaccreditation@fdle.state.fl.us.

This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: OCSO seeks public's input about policies, procedures for accreditation