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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997 03 24 Informational Item A ADD ON COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM A REGULAR CONSENT INFORMATIONAL X March 24, 1997 Meeting MGRI Av fDE~' Authorization REQUEST: Police Department providing the Commission with infonnation regarding the initiation of a process to become a Florida Accredited Agency. PURPOSE: The purpose of this item is to provide the Commission with information concerning the Police Departments initiation of a process to become an accredited agency through the Florida Commission for Law Enforcement Accreditation. CONSIDERA nONS: The Police Department wishes to achieve and maintain the highest possible level of standards of professionalism and service to the community. With that goal in mind, the Police Department has embarked on the effort to become an accredited law enforcement agency. Accreditation is the certificate by an independent reviewing authority that an entity has met specific requirements and prescribed standards. Modem advances in police management philosophy have lead law enforcement administrators to recognize accreditation as the highest standard in the industry and the goal which law enforcement agencies should strive to achieve. 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. ISSUES ANALYSIS: In 1993 Florida Legislators directed the Florida Sheriffs Association and Florida Police Chiefs Association to create a voluntary law enforcement accreditation program. This directive lead to the establishment of the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFLEA) which, to date, has developed a process which requires compliance with a set of 260 professional standards. Accreditation provides a benchmark for the services the community can expect from their police officers. Additionally, the boost in pride and morale created by accreditation leads to successful retention and promotion of the most qualified personnel, the efficient deployment of personnel and resources, as well as the improved recruiting potential by attracting a more qualified set of candidates. FUNDING: The cost to ultimately achieve accreditation from the CFLEA ranges from $1360.00 to more than $1510.00 depending on payment method and amount of materials ordered. The agency must buy at least one (1) manual @ $15.00, and computer software to support the effort is available at $495. The cost to achieve accrediation from the CFLEA is $1000.00. However, if this is paid in full at the time of the signing of the agreement, a 15% discount is available, saving the City $150.00 and making the cost of accreditation $850.00. If only one manual is purchased and the cost for accrediation is paid in full, the total cost would be $1360.00. Funding for this expense is available through the Law Enforcement Trust Fund for implementation of new programs. IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE: The process has already begun with the attendance ofCap1. Tolleson at the Commission meetings in S1. Augustine in February. By beginning this effort now, we can aim for full accreditation in 1998. ATTACHMENTS: memo - Police Chief Kerr to City Manager McLemore - date March 10, 1997 memo - Capt. Tolleson to Police Chief Kerr - date February 25, 1997 COMMISSION ACTION: .. TO: Ronald McLemore, CITY MANAGER D';'iel J. K~F OF POlleE FROM: DATE: March 10, 1997 SUBJ : Accreditation for the Winter Springs Police Department. - 14-97 It is my recommendation that the Winter Springs Police Department begin the process to become a Florida Accredited Agency. By starting now we can aim for accreditation in 1998. As we strive for excellence in the Winter Springs Police Department we can maintain the highest standards of professionalism through accreditation. By meeting the 260 standards of Florida accreditation, we can benchmark our department. with recognized practices and procedures in the law enforcement field. The benefits of accreditation will be exemplified by the impact it will have on the Community, the City, the Department, and even the officers themselves. In February Captain Tolleson attended the accreditation commission meeting in st. Augustine, and brought back all the information that would be needed for compliance. Chief William A. Liquori of Altamonte Springs, who is currently vice chairman for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation, spoke about the benefits that accreditation brings to a City, and the fact that Seminole County jurisdictions are leading the way. The vision is to have Seminole County as the first county to have all agencies in the county' accredited. Altamonte Springs is scheduled for .Commission Approval in June 1997. The cost of accreditation would be $850.00 for the application fee, and $ 4 95.00 for computer software for file maintenance. The law enforcement trust fund can be used for accreditation. Therefore there is no financial impact to the city or adj ustment to the department budget. Departmental General Orders will need to be modified to comply with accreditation standards. During the next 11 months, those changes will be made and the required implementation and associated training will be accomplished. The department should be ready for an on site assessment by early 1998. Then, at the first Commission meeting after the on site inspection, the Certificate of Accreditation will be awarded. It is anticipated that we should be Accredited by June 1998. attch: Memo from Capt. Tolleson. , TO: FROM: DATE: SUBJ: Daniel Kerr, Chief of Police Glenn Tolleson, captain February 25, 1997 Department Accreditation ACCREDITATION FOR WINTER SPRINGS POLICE DEPARTMENT 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 the Florida Sheriffs Association and the Florida Police Chiefs Association to create a voluntary law enforcement accreditation. program. The representati ves from. these associations developed a process for accreditation which requires compliance with 260 professional standards as of today. THE BENEFITS OF ACCREDITATION 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. citizens 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 (i.e., crime prevention, etc.) that directly benefit the public. Accreditation creates a forum in which the police and the citizens may 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 provision 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 performance can be measured and monitored over time. Accreditation provides the agency with a Commission distritmted information about procedures, and projects. continuous flow of exemplary policies, 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 a more consistent and more effective deployment of agency manpower. TO OFFICERS: Accreditation requires that agency policies and procedures are in wri tten form and are available to all agency personnel' at all times. 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 members is enhanced by increasing the member's 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 to 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 PROCESS An agency must apply to the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation to participate in the accreditation process. - The agency will be required to demonstrate compliance with all mandatory standards and 80% of non-mandatory standards. - Proof of compliance with the standards is determined by an assessment team sent by the Commission, conducting an on-site review of the agency's own policies, procedures and practices. - Assistance is available from the Commission in the form of sample policies, consultation with accredited agencies, and informal peer evaluation. - Agencies will remain accredited for a period of three years. After the three year period they must be reaccredited. THE COMMISSION The Commission is comprised of four Chiefs of Police, four Sheriffs, Association of County Commission, Florida League of Cities, and Florida Judiciary. THE COST OF ACCREDITATION AND REACCREDITATION The cost for our department is $1000.00, and there are two ways for payment to the Commission. - Full payment upon signing agreement at which time a 15% discount will be applied, reducing the cost to $850.00. - The agency may pay half upon signing the agreement with the balance due in twelve months. - The agency must buy at least one manual for $15.00, and computer software is available for $495.00 for file maintenance. THE STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE By establishing Professional Standards encompassing Training, Internal Affairs, and Accreditation we can come into compliance wi th all standards in a short period of time. The department General Orders are currently written from CALEA version two for National Accreditation. However, they need to be re-evaluated to ensure that all mandatory standards are met, files are established, maintained, and follow Florida Commission for Accreditation.