ACCREDITATION TEAM INVITES PUBLIC COMMENTS ABOUT WALTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
September 21, 2020
WALTON COUNTY, Fla— Walton County Sheriff’s Office is up for reaccreditation and now assessors are inviting the public to comment on the agency’s performance.
A team of assessors from the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFA) will examine all aspects of the Walton County Sheriff’s Office’s policies and procedures, management, operations, and support services beginning on October 27, 2020.
The Walton County Sheriff’s Office has to comply with approximately 250 standards in order to receive accredited status.
Many of the standards are critical to life, health and safety issues.
As part of the assessment, agency members and the general public are invited to offer comments to the assessment team. A copy of the standards manual is available through the Walton County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer in DeFuniak Springs at (850) 951-4759.
For more information regarding CFA or for persons wishing to offer written comments about the Walton County Sheriff’s Office’s ability to meet the standards of accreditation, please write:
CFA, P.O. Box 1489, Tallahassee, Florida 32302, or email [email protected].
The Accreditation Program Manager for the Walton County Sheriff’s Office is Sarah Gainey.
“The assessment team is composed of law enforcement practitioners from similar agencies,” said Gainey. “The assessors will review written materials; interview individuals; and conduct virtual inspections of offices and other areas where compliance can be witnessed.”
Once the Commission’s assessors complete their review of the agency, they report back to the full Commission, which will then determine if the agency is to receive accredited status. The Walton County Sheriff’s Office accreditation is valid for three years.
“Verification by the team that Walton County Sheriff’s Office meets the Commission’s standards is part of a voluntary process to gain or maintain accreditation,” said Sheriff Adkinson. “This is a highly prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence.”