Accreditation Team Invites Public Comments About The Bay County Sheriff's Office

November 01, 2006 Ruth Sasser, PAS
For Immediate Release 747-4700, ext. 2117

ACCREDITATION TEAM INVITES PUBLIC COMMENTS ABOUT THE BAY COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE

Sheriff Frank McKeithen announced today a team of assessors from the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFA) will arrive in Panama City November 7, 2006 to examine all aspects of the Bay County Sheriffs Office policies and procedures, management, operations, and support services. The Bay County Sheriffs Office must comply with approximately 272 standards in order to receive accreditation status.

As part of the on-site assessment, agency members and the general public are invited to offer comments to the assessment team. The public may call 850-258-8084 on Tuesday, November 7, 2006, between the hours of 1:00 p.m.- 5;00 p.m. Telephone comments are limited to 10 minutes and must address the agency's ability to comply with CFA standards. A copy of the standards is available through the Bay County Sheriffs Office Public Information Officer in Panama City at 850-747-4700 extension 2117.

For more information regarding CFA or for persons wishing to offer written comments about the Bay County Sheriffs Office ability to meet the standards of accreditation, please write:

CFA
3504 Lake Lynda Drive, Suite 380
Orlando, Florida, 32817

The Accreditation Program Manager for the Bay County Sheriffs Office is Jay Leffert. Leffert said the assessment team is composed of law enforcement practitioners from similar agencies. The assessors will review written materials; interview individuals; and visit offices and other places where compliance can be witnessed. The CFA Assessment Team Leader is Sgt. Audrey Smith, Tallahassee Police Department. Other team members are Lt. James High tower, Florida DOT, Motor Vehicle Compliance, and Inspector Clyde Hedrick, Manatee County Sheriffs Office.

Once the Commission's assessors complete their review, they will report back to the full Commission, which will then decide if the agency is to receive accreditation status once again. The Bay County Sheriffs Office accreditation is for 3 years. Verification by the team that the Bay County Sheriffs Office again 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.

Prepared by R. Sasser
Information by J. Leffert