Greetings Lauderhill Family!
It’s an exciting time as your Lauderhill Police Department prepares to renew our accreditation by the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation! The Florida Sheriffs Association (FSA) and the Florida Police Chiefs Association (FPCA) were interested in creating an independent voluntary law enforcement agency accreditation program, a process which is now detailed under Florida State Statute 943.125.
What is “accreditation,” you ask?
Accreditation is the process designed to reflect best practices in law enforcement. Your Lauderhill Police Department is required to comply with more than 250 professional standards designed specifically for Florida law enforcement agencies. These standards are practical, easily understood, and achievable for all law enforcement agencies. The program has the following objectives:
• Establish and maintain standards that represent current professional law enforcement practices.
• Increase effectiveness and efficiency in the delivery of law enforcement services.
• Establish standards that address and reduce liability for the agency and its members.
• Establish standards that make an agency and its personnel accountable to the constituency they serve.
After two years of a rigorous inspection by Law Enforcement Assessors, we received our initial accredited status in 2005. Accreditation is valid for three years with complete reports submitted annually to verify our compliance with the standards. We last received re-accreditation in 2017, making 2020 the year to go through the process again. This time, however, the spotlight on us will be much brighter as we petition for Excelsior Recognition.
The word “excelsior” is a Latin adjective meaning “higher,” used in English with a poetic meaning of “ever upward.” The Excelsior Recognition indicates that the department has committed itself to keeping the highest standards in law enforcement and to providing the best service to the community we serve.
I am very proud of the men and women of our police department and all the tireless work they do every day for our great city. This 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. I look forward to our earning this distinction!