dfritchi@sheriff.martin.fl.us
wpuglis@sheriff.martin.fl.us Rose Beetle, Assistant
(772) 220-7046
rbeetle@sheriff.martin.fl.us
The most often asked question is: What is Accreditation?
In law enforcement, and many other professions, there is a standard of excellence that organizations strive to achieve. Achieving accredited status means that you have met those standards. The Martin County Sheriff’s Office is accredited by the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation, Inc. (CFA).
In order to attain and maintain accredited status, agencies must meet law enforcement related standards. These standards cover every aspect of an operating law enforcement agency. Examples of areas the standards cover are: Organizational Structure, Use of Force, Fiscal Activities, Conduct and Disciplinary Process, Training, Investigations, Unusual Occurrences, Traffic Law Enforcement, Grievance Procedures, Court Security, Communications (Dispatch), Records, Evidence, and Forfeitures. There are currently 263 CFA Standards.
The Martin County Sheriff’s Office originally earned CFA accredited status on October 8, 1998, and has maintained that accredited status ever since. CFA assessments occur every three years. The assessment process consists of three assessors being chosen by the CFA Staff, and having the assessors conduct an “on-site”, which is similar to an audit process, at our agency for three days. The assessors tour the agency, review files, and interview personnel to ensure all of the accreditation standards are being met.
Some people misunderstand the concept of accreditation, and believe that the accrediting bodies are telling us how to run the Sheriff’s Office. This is not the case at all. The standards direct us to “what” guidelines we should meet; they do not tell us “how” to meet them. This is an important factor, in that the accrediting body recognizes that each agency has individual needs and facets that make them unique.
The two-person Accreditation Unit is also responsible for revising the Policy and Procedure Manual of the Sheriff’s Office. This manual contains over 400 rules, regulations, policies and procedures that our employees must follow. The contents of this manual are under constant review, and are updated on a regular basis. The Accreditation Unit maintains this manual on the agency Intranet. This enables employees to have access to the policies and procedures via computer.
If you have questions regarding accreditation, or any of the other duties the Accreditation Unit performs, please do not hesitate to call Wendy Puglis at 220-7045.
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