An Accreditation Program has long been recognized as a means of maintaining the highest standards of professionalism. Accreditation is the certification by an independent reviewing authority that an entity has met specific requirements and prescribed standards.

In 1993, Florida Statute 943.125 directed that the Florida Sheriffs Association and the Florida Police Chiefs Association create a voluntary law enforcement accreditation program.

Representatives from these Associations developed a process for accreditation which required compliance with more than 250 professional standards designed specifically for Florida law enforcement agencies. The Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation, Inc. was formed, comprised of four sheriffs, four chiefs, and one representative each from the Association of Counties, the League of Cities, the State Law Enforcement Chiefs' Association, and the Judiciary. The Commission meets quarterly to oversee the accreditation program and to officially accredit agencies that have passed the rigorous review process.

The Accreditation Management Unit is responsible for ensuring that areas of the department remain in compliance with specific standards as set forth by the State of Florida. The community and the department benefit from this process because it reinforces an agency's ability to maintain the highest standards of law enforcement services that represent current professional practices.

Palm Bay Police Receive Excelsior Status December 7, 2022

Accreditation Benefits

To The Community:

Accreditation increases the law enforcement agency’s ability to prevent and control crime through more effective and efficient delivery of law enforcement services to the community it serves.  Accreditation enhances community understanding of the law enforcement agency and its role in the community as well as its goals and objectives.  Citizen confidence in the policies and practices of the agency is increased.

Accreditation, in conjunction with the philosophy of community policing, commits the agency to a broad range of programs (such as crime prevention) that directly benefit the public.

Accreditation creates a forum in which police and citizens work together to control and prevent crime.  This partnership will help citizens to understand the challenges that confront law enforcement.  Law enforcement will, in turn, receive clear direction from the community about its expectations.  Thus, a common set of goals and objectives will be arrived at and implemented.

To the Chief:

Increases cooperation and coordination with other law enforcement agencies and other branches of the criminal justice system.

The accreditation process requires an in-depth review of every aspect of the agency’s organization, management, operations, and administration to include:

• establishment of agency goals and objectives with provisions for periodic updating;
• re-evaluation of whether agency resources are being used in accord with agency goals, objectives, and mission;
• re-evaluation of agency policies and procedures, especially as documented in the agency’s written directive system;
• correction of internal deficiencies and inefficiencies before they become public problems;
• the opportunity to re-organize without the appearance of personal attacks.

The accreditation standards provide norms against which agency performance can be measured and monitored over time.

Accreditation provides the agency with a continuous flow of Commission distributed information about exemplary policies, procedures, and projects.

Accreditation provides objective measures to justify decisions related to budget requests and personnel policies.

Accreditation serves as a yardstick to measure the effectiveness of the agency’s programs and services.  The services provided are defined, and uniformity of service is assured.

Accreditation streamlines operations, providing more consistency and more effective deployment of agency staffing.

To the Officers:

Accreditation requires that agency policies and procedures are in written form and are available to all agency personnel at all times.

Accreditation assures employees that every aspect of the agency’s personnel system is in accord with professional standards, and that the system is both fair and equitable.

The agency is compelled to operate within specific guidelines.  It is accountable to the Commission.  The agency must stay in compliance with the standards set forth by the Commission in order to retain its accreditation.

The morale of the agency is enhanced by increasing the employees’ confidence in the effectiveness and efficiency of their own agency.  Operations become more streamlined and consistent.

Accreditation policies address officer safety issues and provide for adequate training and equipment of the officers.

Accreditation is a coveted award that symbolizes professionalism, excellence, and competence.  Employees will take pride in their agency, knowing that it represents the very best in law enforcement.

The department officially obtained accreditation status on October 31, 2007.

Re-Accreditation received on October 14, 2010.

Re-Accreditation received on September 25, 2013.

Re-Accreditation received on October 26, 2016.

Re-Accreditation received on October 2, 2019.

Accreditation Manager
Alyssa Bermudez
Phone: (321) 952-3493

For more information on accreditation including the standards, visit Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation.