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Highlands Today

Sheriff's Office Achieves Accreditation Status

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Highlands County Sheriff's Office Accreditation Team members.

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Highlands Today staff report

Published: June 11, 2008

SEBRING — The Highlands County Sheriff's Office, through its strategic plan has been working to become an accredited law enforcement agency.

"Over the past two years members have worked diligently to conduct a self-assessment of policy and operations within the Agency," said Lisa Burley, chief of staff in a news release. "As a result, policies have been rewritten, processes improved, and systems set into place."

In April, a team of assessors from the Commission of Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation arrived at the Highlands County Sheriff's Office for a three-day review and examination of all aspects of the Highlands County Sheriff's office policies and procedures, management, operations, and financial and business support services.

The Highlands County Sheriff's Office had to comply with about 254 professional law enforcement and operational standards in order to receive this status, many of which are critical to life, health and safety, Burley wrote.

Today, June 11, the sheriff and key staff attended the Commission for the Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation meeting in Coral Springs, Florida.

After an interview with the sheriff by the agency review committee, the final assessment report was submitted to the full commission that unanimously voted to award the designation of an Accredited Florida Law Enforcement Agency to the Highlands County Sheriff's Office.

Benton praised the work of all members of the sheriff's office for their "unyielding commitment to 'professionalize' the policies and practices of the Sheriff's law enforcement and business operations", while reminding staff that the process will start again, according to the strategic plan, for detention accreditation in January of 2009.

"I was so proud of the men and women of our agency today," Benton said during the commission meeting. "They truly deserve this designation and will proudly display the Commission of Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation insignia."

Accreditation team leader, Michael Somberg of the Broward County Sheriff's Office in his report stated: "The assessment team was very impressed with the Highlands County Sheriff's Office and the professionalism of both its sworn and non-sworn members. The agency's polices and practices promote responsiveness to the community's law enforcement needs."

Anyone interested in reviewing the Assessment Final Report in full can pick up a copy at the Sheriff's Office or it will be available after 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 12, on its website at www.highlandssheriff.org.

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