News and Investigations

Sheriff Grady Judd is proud to announce that on June 16, 2022, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office was reaccredited by the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFA) and designated as an excelsior agency for the fourth time. The CFA is an independent law enforcement and detention accreditation program that establishes professional “best practices” standards for Florida agencies, and independently reviews and certifies that an entity has met specific requirements and prescribed standards. Professional accreditation has long been recognized as a means of maintaining the highest standards of professionalism.
 
The CFA excelsior designation is reserved as the highest level of achievement in Florida accreditation that a criminal justice agency can achieve. To earn this prestigious designation agencies must have been awarded five successful reaccreditation cycles where all required accreditation standards have been met. PCSO first earned CFA accreditation in 1998, and after the required five successful accreditation cycles (15 years), was first designated as an excelsior agency in 2013. 
 
On April 19-20, 2022, a team of assessors reviewed all aspects of the agency’s operation, including the policies and procedures, administration, operations, and support services. The agency was found to be in compliance with all applicable 92 standards.
 
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office has had a longtime commitment to professional accreditation dating back to 1994, when the agency was first accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), for its law enforcement operations. Accreditation is a voluntary process that invites independent accrediting bodies to inspect and review agency policies and practices to determine if the agency is following state and national standards and best practices. Accreditation is a highly valued recognition for any law enforcement agency. Click here to learn more about our 10 accreditations.
 
“We continue to open our agency to scrutiny from outside independent organizations whose jobs are to ensure we are adhering to best practices in a wide range of areas, from law enforcement and detention operations to telecommunications, purchasing, training, and medical services. We believe in transparency, innovation, and professional development. Our goal is to be ahead of the curve and leading the way among law enforcement agencies. I am so proud of the men and women in this agency who constantly and consistently go above and beyond to achieve excellence every day.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff