A team of assessors from the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFA) will arrive April 3, 2019, to examine specific aspects of the Polk County Sheriff's Office policies and procedures, management, operations, and support services. 
 
Since the agency is already nationally accredited through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), it only has to comply with approximately 114 additional Florida-based standards in order to receive state accredited status. A copy of the standards is available through the Polk County Sheriff's Office Accreditation Unit in Winter Haven at 863-298-6368.
 
The assessment team is composed of law enforcement practitioners from similar agencies throughout the state. The assessors will review written materials, interview individuals, and visit offices and other places where compliance can be witnessed.
 
For more information regarding CFA or for persons wishing to offer written comments about the Polk County Sheriff's Office ability to meet the standards of accreditation, please write:

CFA
P.O. Box 1489 
Tallahassee, FL 32302
or email to flaccreditation@fdle.state.fl.us
 
Once the Commission's assessors complete their review of the agency, they report back to the full Commission, which will then decide if the agency is to receive accredited status. The accreditation is for three years. Verification by the team that the Polk County Sheriff's Office 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.