Accreditation Team Wants to Hear From You About Gulfport Police

Gulfport, FL - Police Chief Robert Vincent announced today that assessors from the Commission of Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation will arrive on Tuesday, April 24th to assess the Gulfport Police Department's compliance with
peer reviewed standards. The Gulfport Police Department received initial accreditation from CFA in February of 2000 and has maintained an accredited status since. Assessors will examine all aspects of the Gulfport Police Department's policies, procedures, management, operations and support
services. The Gulfport Police Department has to comply with approximately 260 standards in order to maintain its accredited status.

As part of the on-site assessment, agency members and the general public are invited to offer comments to the assessment team. Comments must be in writing and must address the agency's ability to comply with CFA standards. A copy of the standards are available through the Police Department's Professional Standards Section office at 727-893-1111 or 727-893-1123.

For more information regarding CFA or for persons wishing to offer written comments about the Gulfport Police Department's ability to meet accreditation standards, please write the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement
Accreditation (CFA) at P.O. Box 1489, Tallahassee, Florida 32302, or email to info@flaccreditation.org.

The Accreditation Program Manager for the Gulfport Police Department is Sergeant Joshua Stone. He 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
Lieutenant Susan Manney of the Orlando Police Department. Other team members are Inspector James Fannin of the Walton County Sheriff's Office and Ms. Wanda
Binz of the Ponce Inlet Police Department.

According to Chief Robert Vincent, "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 Gulfport Police Department's accreditation is for 3 years. Verification by the team that the Gulfport Police Department 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."