Accreditation Team Wants Public Comment on MIPD

The Marco Island Police Department is applying to become an accredited law enforcement agency with the Commission of Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFA).

Accreditation is the certification by an independent reviewing authority that an entity has met specific requirements and prescribed standards. Being an accredited agency ensures personnel are current and compliant with the latest law enforcement trends and helps direct resources to the required level of professional practices and judicial standards.

A team of assessors from CFA will arrive December 6, 2022, to examine all aspects of the Marco Island Police Department’s policies and procedures, management, operations and support services. This is the initial accreditation process for the Marco Island Police Department and is valid for three years.

Marco Island Police Department must comply with approximately 235 standards to receive accredited status. Many of the standards are critical to life, health, safety issues, and best practices.

The assessment team is composed of assessors from similar agencies. The assessors will review written materials, interview individuals, and visit offices and other areas where compliance can be observed. The Marco Island Police Department assessment will conclude on December 8, 2022.

As 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 a person wishing to offer written comments about the Marco Island Police Department’s ability to meet the standard of accreditation, please send correspondence to: CFA, P.O. Box 1489, Tallahassee, Florida, 32302 or email to flaccreditation@fdle.state.fl.us.

Once the Commission’s assessors complete their review of the agency, they report to the full Commission, which then determines if the agency is to receive accredited status. Verification by the team that the Department meets the Commission’s standards is part of a voluntary process to gain or maintain accreditation – a highly prized recognition of professional excellence.