Accreditation

The Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation, Inc. (CFA) is the authority responsible for reviewing law enforcement agencies throughout Florida to be considered for accredited status.  The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Division of Law Enforcement is required to address over 200 accreditation standards through the application of general orders, policies, procedures and daily operations to demonstrate compliance.  Initial accredited status was awarded on February 25, 2009 and is valid for a three year period.  The Division is required to gather documentation to prove compliance on a regular basis to ensure uniformity and consistency throughout FWC's six regions.

The FWC's Division of Law Enforcement's achievement of accredited status makes it the largest natural resource law enforcement agency in the nation to achieve this level of distinction.  The Division joined an elite group of fish and wildlife law enforcement agencies that have successfully completed the accreditation process.  Rodney Barreto, Chairman of the FWC said, "We have always been proud of our law enforcement division, and now that the division is accredited it has again exceeded our expectations".

Receiving the endorsement demonstrates a commitment to professional excellence and increases the Division's ability to fulfill its mission of protecting Florida's natural resources and people through more effective and efficient delivery of law enforcement services.  Because the Division is scrutinized by an outside entity, accreditation requires transparency and accountability.  To maintain accredited status, the Division will again be reviewed by CFA assessors in December of 2011. The Division is also subject to inspections at 21 field office locations throughout the state where evidence and property are held, as well as the six Regional Communications Centers

Benefits of Accreditation

• Accreditation increases the agency's ability to prevent and control crime and resource violations through effective and efficient delivery of law enforcement services to our citizens and visitors.
• Accreditation streamlines operations, providing consistency, accountability and more effective deployment of agency staff and resources.
• Accreditation requires that agency policy and procedures are in written form and are available to all members at all times.
• Accreditation assures members that every aspect of the agency's personnel system is in accordance with professional standards and that the system is both fair and equitable.
• Accreditation standards address officer safety issues and provides for increased training and improved equipment for FWC Officers.
• Accreditation symbolizes professionalism, excellence and competence.  Employees can take pride in representing FWC Law Enforcement knowing the Division is a top-tier law enforcement agency.

For more information:

Visit the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFA) at: www.flaccreditation.org.

FWC's Division of Law Enforcement Accreditation Manager is Captain Dean Kelly.  Captain Kelly may be contacted at 850-617-9401 or Dean.Kelly@MyFWC.com.

Captain Kelly's Accreditation Assistant is Juli Dodson who may be reached at 850-617-9401 or Juli.Dodson@MyFWC.com.  Their offices are located at 2574 Seagate Drive, Tallahassee, Florida 32301.