The Lauderhill Police Department was first accredited by the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation, Inc. CFA on June 29, 2005. We have since been re-accredited in 2008, 2011, 2014, and 2017. In January of 2020, CFA accreditation assessors conducted our mock assessment prior to our July 2020 CFA remote assessment. We have been recently reviewed by the Commission and recognized as an “Excelsior” accredited agency (Five re-accreditations without conditions). The assessors reviewed all aspects of the Department’s policies and procedures, management, operations, support services bureau’s and the Criminal Investigations Division to determine compliance with 276 recognized standards of excellence.  Many of the standards are critical to life, health and safety issues.

Undergoing the voluntary accreditation process provides an agency with a “quality assurance review” and encourages intense self-scrutiny, resulting in more efficient and effective daily operations.  Accreditation by the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation is considered a significant accomplishment held in high esteem by the Criminal Justice community.

Excelsior Recognition- In May of 2010, the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation, Inc. (CFA) empaneled an ad hoc Client Recognition Development Committee to develop and recommend a suitable recognition program for Florida criminal justice agencies which have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to the Florida accreditation process.

Commitment to Accreditation- Candidate agencies for Excelsior recognition shall have been awarded five successful reaccreditation cycles by the Commission; and

Excellence in Accreditation-A candidate agency’s reaccreditation interval shall only be accredited toward this new recognition status if conditions were not assessed by the Commission.  With these criteria in place, the committee recommended the name of this new exceptional level of achievement would be Excelsior Recognition. The word Excelsior is a Latin adjective meaning “higher” or “loftier,” used in English as an interjection with a poetic meaning of “ever upward.” On July 1, 2010, the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation formally adopted the committee’s recommendations, and the Excelsior Recognition program became the highest level of achievement in Florida accreditation a criminal justice agency can receive. Today, the excelsior Recognition program recognizes some of the finest criminal justice agencies in the State of Florida, and a demonstrated level of commitment to the Florida Accreditation process unparalleled in the criminal justice profession.

BENEFITS OF ACCREDITATION

Why is Accreditation Important?

• Demonstrates the commitment of the Police Department to professionalism in terms of adherence to a body of standards that represent current professional law enforcement practices in our daily operations.
• Demonstrates to the community and its employees the agency’s commitment to high quality service and that its policies and procedures are effective and responsive as well as fair and equitable.
• As state/federal laws change standards are updated to comply with these laws, ensuring that the agency keeps up with current laws and enforcement practices.
• Saves tax payer dollars by reducing the impact of vicarious liability suits against the agency and lowering insurance premiums for the department.
• Promotes greater accountability within the agency- CFA standards give the Chief of Police a proven management system of written directives, sound employee training, and clearly defined lines of authority.
• Accreditation requires an in-depth review of every aspect of the Police Department’s organization and administration, including:
  • Establishment and continuing evaluation of the agency's goals, objectives and resources with provisions for periodic updating.
  • Continuing evaluation of the agency's policies and procedures and making these available to all agency personnel; and
  • Proactive in the correction of deficiencies before they become public problems.

ACCREDITATION IN OUR DAILY PRACTICE

Our Police Department policies and procedures comply with the Standards established by CFA. As laws change, standards change and our policies and procedures are updated to comply with these changes. Updated policies are distributed to all employees, providing them with current timely information to do their jobs. Accreditation addresses officer safety issues and provided adequate training and equipment for officers. Accreditation assures employees that every aspect of the agency’s personnel system is in agreement with professional standards, and that the system is both fair and equitable.

Employees take pride in knowing that their agency represents the very best in law enforcement.