Commission for Florida Accreditation Invites Public Comment about Wilton Manors Police 

A team of assessors from the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFA) will arrive March 5, 2019 to examine all aspects of the Wilton Manors Police Department’s policies, procedures, operations and support services. Wilton Manors has to comply with 230 standards in order to maintain the department’s accredited status. 
 
As part of the on-site assessment, agency members and the general public are invited to offer comments to the assessment team. Copies of the individual accreditation standards are available through the CFA, PO Box 1489 Tallahassee FL 32302 or email flaccreditation@fdle.state.fl.us for more information.

The department’s accreditation initiative is managed by Doug Robertson. According to Robertson, the assessment team is composed of law enforcement practitioners from around the state. The assessors will review written materials, interview individual department employees and participate in shift briefings and ride-a-longs with Wilton Manors patrol officers. 
 
The Commission’s assessment team is comprised of Lieutenant Matt Fletcher from the Naples Police Department, Lieutenant John Lamb of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and Sergeant David Gross from the Rockledge Police Department. Once the assessment is complete, the team will report back to the full Commission, which will then decide if the agency is to receive re-accreditation status.  The accreditation cycle is 3 years in duration. Wilton Manors Police Chief Paul O’Connell said that verification by the team that Wilton Manors meets the Commission’s standards is part of a voluntary process to gain or maintain accreditation-a highly coveted recognition of law enforcement excellence. 
 
For more information regarding CFA or for persons wishing to offer written comments about the Wilton Manors Police Department’s ability to meet the standards of accreditation, please write CFA, PO Box 1489 Tallahassee FL 32302 or email to flaccreditation@fdle.state.fl.us

Re-Accredited as of June of 2016

A team of assessors from the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFA) arrived at our department in April 2016 and examined all aspects of the Wilton Manors Police Department’s policies, procedures, management, operations, and support services. The Wilton Manors Police Department (WMPD) had to comply with approximately 260 standards in order to receive accredited status. Many of the standards are critical to life, health, and safety issues.

Once the Commission’s assessors completed their review of our agency, they reported back to the full Commission, which would then decide if the agency was to receive re-accredited status. Verification that WMPD meets the Commission’s standards is part of a voluntary process to gain or maintain accreditation--a highly prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence.

We are pleased to announce that as of June 2016 The Wilton Manors Police Department has been RE-ACCREDITED until 2019!

Law Enforcement Accreditation

An Accreditation program has long been recognized as a means of maintaining the highest standards of professionalism. Indeed, it is a form of “best practices” that acts to protect both the police officers and the citizenship they are sworn to protect. Accreditation has proven to give a high return on investment because it protects taxpayer dollars by providing the most efficient use of staffing and equipment through the adoption and use of these “best practices.” A Police Department which attains such designation is the functional equivalent to a Doctor or a Lawyer being “Board Certified” and it means that we meet or exceed the highest standards of our respective professions. In addition, Accreditation helps in our recruiting efforts as the best police candidates are drawn to the best Police Departments. Finally, those Police Departments which are accredited tend to have a higher success rate in securing Grant Awards because of the status that comes with being accredited.

The Wilton Manors Police Department first attained Accreditation status in 2010. In June 2013 the Wilton Manors Police Department was awarded its first “Re-Accreditation” status. This past spring we again went through the process of “Re-Accreditation” which was an arduous process of proving that this Police Department continues to adhere to these high standards in our daily activity as we serve the citizens and visitors of Wilton Manors. In June 2016, we successfully maintained our "Re-Accreditation" status at a ceremony in Kissimmee, Florida.

So the Wilton Manors Police Department will maintain its Accreditation status for the next three years. It is an honor. The badge we wear on our uniform is a Badge of Honor. The Accreditation status we have attained is a Badge of Excellence! For more information on the Florida Accreditation process I encourage you to visit their website at www.flaccreditation.org.

To reach the Wilton Manors Police Department Accreditation Coordinator please call 954-390-2106.