UPDATE:  As the news of COVID-19 continues to unfold, the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation has determined at this time it is not in their best interest to conduct our assessment in April. Therefore, our assessment will be rescheduled for July/August time frame. A new press release will be published upon receipt of new dates.

SEBRING -- A team of assessors from the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFA) will arrive April 7, 2020 to examine all aspects of the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office policies and procedures, management, operations, and support services.  The Sheriff’s Office has to comply with approximately 260 standards in order to receive accredited status.  Many of the standards are critical to life, health and safety issues.

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 at the Florida Accreditation website, www.flaccreditation.org, or at the Sheriff’s Office in Sebring.

Jeannine West, Accreditation Manager for the Sheriff's Office, explained that “the assessment team is comprised of law enforcement practitioners from similar law enforcement agencies. The assessors will review written materials, interview Sheriff’s Office members, and visit all Sheriff’s Office facilities, where compliance can be witnessed firsthand.” The CFA Assessment Team assigned for this review is: Team Leader Lieutenant Scott Glazier from Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, Captain Adam Geissenberger from the Pinellas Park Police Department and Sergeant Wade Courtemanche from St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office.

For more information regarding CFA or for persons wishing to offer written comments about the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office ability to meet the standards of accreditation, please write: CFA, P.O. Box 1489, Tallahassee, Florida  32302, or email to flaccreditation@fdle.state.fl.us.

Once the Commissions’ assessors complete their review of the Sheriff’s Office, a report of their findings will be delivered back to the Commission staff. The full Commission will then determine if the Sheriff’s Office has met the standards and should receive reaccreditation status. “Verification by this team of professionals that the Highlands County Sheriff's Office meets the Commission’s standards is part of our voluntary commitment to maintain accreditation; the accreditation program has long been recognized as a means of maintaining the highest standards of professionalism”, Sheriff Blackman said.