LABELLE, FL. -- Hendry County Sheriff Steve Whidden announced that on September 27, 2012, the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office received its Initial Certificate of Accreditation from the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation.
Becoming accredited by the commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation is considered a significant accomplishment and this status is held in high esteem by the criminal justice community.
The Hendry County Sheriff’s Office entered into an agreement with CFA to allow on-site inspectors to review Sheriff’s Office policies and practices and observe agency components, equipment and programs to include ride-alongs and interviews with agency personnel.
On August 6, 2012, a three member on-site team of assessors arrived at the Sheriff’s Office to begin the required Inspection. Sheriff’s Office members coordinated a static display exhibiting equipment and showcasing special response units within the Sheriff’s Office. The on-site inspectors spent the following two days, inspecting files, policies and interviews with employees. The on-site assessors made a formal recommendation for accreditation to CFA based on their findings.
Sheriff Steve Whidden and his accreditation team members, Sgt. Michael Stevens, Deputy Bonnie Weaver and Nicki Hunt attended the CFA Business meeting in Sarasota, Florida on September 27, 2012 to be reviewed for State Accreditation. It was during this meeting that the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation, officially awarded Sheriff Steve Whidden with the Certificate of Accreditation.
Undergoing the voluntary state accreditation process provides an agency with a “quality assurance review” and encourages intense self-scrutiny resulting in more efficient and effective daily operations. “We are striving to create and maintain a culture of professionalism and accountability within the agency as a way of doing business,” said Sheriff Steve Whidden.
The Hendry County Sheriff’s Office entered into an agreement with CFA to allow on-site inspectors to review Sheriff’s Office policies and practices and observe agency components, equipment and programs to include ride-alongs and interviews with agency personnel.
On August 6, 2012, a three member on-site team of assessors arrived at the Sheriff’s Office to begin the required Inspection. Sheriff’s Office members coordinated a static display exhibiting equipment and showcasing special response units within the Sheriff’s Office. The on-site inspectors spent the following two days, inspecting files, policies and interviews with employees. The on-site assessors made a formal recommendation for accreditation to CFA based on their findings.
Sheriff Steve Whidden and his accreditation team members, Sgt. Michael Stevens, Deputy Bonnie Weaver and Nicki Hunt attended the CFA Business meeting in Sarasota, Florida on September 27, 2012 to be reviewed for State Accreditation. It was during this meeting that the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation, officially awarded Sheriff Steve Whidden with the Certificate of Accreditation.
Undergoing the voluntary state accreditation process provides an agency with a “quality assurance review” and encourages intense self-scrutiny resulting in more efficient and effective daily operations. “We are striving to create and maintain a culture of professionalism and accountability within the agency as a way of doing business,” said Sheriff Steve Whidden.
This particular "Accreditation" Organization is a separate entity from CALEA which is THE de facto standard for MOST real accredited agencies in the nation. With over 1500 and more separate standards of compliance they are the original and only accreditation process. This Florida Commission on Accreditation is a money making, pay a fee, get accreditation certificate organization. If you want to see if an agency is REALLY accredited, look for the official CALEA seal. Large and small agencies all over the country bear it. Maybe some day the Hendry residents will see that facades can be built around any and everything they want you to see.
ReplyDeleteThis "process" was worthless. The CALEA process takes months if not years and grueling measurements.
PLUS once you are accredited with CALEA, the real work starts. Check around and you will see CALEA seals on most of your professional agencies. And having Stevens as one of the "team" members is interesting. The guy literally for years before now has threatened to quit, failed promotions, has an attitude problem, and is about as professional as Lurch.
What a joke.