Sheriff Ric Bradshaw announced today that a team of assessors from the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFA) will arrive July 13, 2021 to examine all aspects of the Sheriff’s Office policies and procedures, management, operations, and support services. The Palm Beach 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 on-site assessment, agency members and the general public are invited to offer comments to the assessment team. A copy of the standards is available by sending an email request to CFAAccreditation@pbso.org. For more information regarding CFA or for persons wishing to offer written comments about the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office ability to meet the standards of accreditation, please write:

CFA, P.O. Box 1489, Tallahassee, Florida 32302, or email to info@flaccreditation.org.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Accreditation Program is under the command of Colonel John Prieschl, Department of Professional Compliance. Colonel Prieschl 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 Matthew Fletcher, Naples Police Department. Other team members are Cody Whiddon, Clay County Sheriff’s Office; Charles Willdigg, Kissimmee Police Department; and Lafayetta Hodges, Ocala Police Department.

Once the Commission’s assessors complete their review of the agency, they report to the full Commission, which will then decide if the agency is to receive accredited status. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office accreditation is valid for three years. Verification by the team that the Sheriff’s Office 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.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office was initially accredited by CFA in 2000 and reaccredited in 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, and 2018. In 2015 and 2018, the Sheriff’s Office was awarded accreditation with Excelsior status, representing over 15 years of professionalism and excellence in Law Enforcement. This assessment represents the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office’s third re-accreditation as an Excelsior agency.