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______________________________________ _______________________________________ General Order B --11 1 of 5 Accreditation Management and Familiarization TEMPLE TERRACE POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDER EFFECTIVE DATE 07/28/2010 FILE INDEX NO. B-11 SUBJECT: ACCREDITATION MANAGEMENT AND FAMILIARIZATION INDEX AS: SAME AS ABOVE RESCINDS: REVISES: DATE REVISED: 09/15/2021 DISTRIBUTION ALL MEMBERS I. PURPOSE : The purpose of this directive is to provide guidance to the members of the Temple Terrace Police Department regarding the establishment of an accreditation management system and orientation program that provides for the administration, maintenance, and follow -up of the law enforcement accreditation process . II. SCOPE: All Members III. DISCUSSION: It is the policy of the Temple Terrace Police Department to maintain a system that ensures that periodic reports, reviews, and other agency activities mandate d by law enforcement accreditation standards are accomplished and that all members are familiar with the accreditation process. It is further the policy of the Temple Terrace Police Department to achieve and maintain state accredited status by meeting and ex ceeding Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation, Inc., standards. All agency members shall make a concerted effort to constantly improve professionalism throughout the Police Department. IV. DEFINITIONS: A. Accreditation – The bestowing of cred entials symbolizing approval from a professional organization upon practitioners or specific institutions. It is a progressive and time - proven way of helping organizations evaluate and improve their overall performance. B. Accreditation Manager – The Accreditat ion Manager is responsible for organizing and supervising agency resources and activities to achieve and maintain accreditation. C. Assessors (Assessment Team) – A team of law enforcement professionals (usually three) representing the Commission for Florid a Law Enforcement Accreditation, Inc., assigned by the Commission to inspect the management and operations of the Temple Terrace Police Department for compliance with accreditation standards. The Assessment Team makes a formal recommendation to the Commissio n recommending approval or denial of accredited status. ______________________________________ _______________________________________ General Order B --11 2 of 5 Accreditation Management and Familiarization D. CFA – The Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation, Inc. Also referred to as “State Accreditation.” E. FLA-PAC – The Florida Police Accreditation Coalition, Inc. A not -for-profit organiza tion representing a coalition of Florida criminal justice agencies working together to achieve and maintain accredited status. FLA -PAC provides a network for law enforcement and corrections professionals who encourage communication, mutual cooperation, suppo rt, and the sharing of resources in the pursuit and maintenance of accreditation. F. Functional Staff Authority – Executive authority granted by the Chief of Police to control activities of other components as they relate to specific staff responsibilities . Staff authority may extend to the issuance of direct orders to personnel in order to assure compliance with accreditation standards. As used in this standard operating procedure, functional staff authority is limited to those matters relating to the law e nforcement accreditation process. G. Mock On -Site Assessment – A trial run for the final On -Site Assessment conducted prior to the final On -Site Assessment. The Mock On -Site Assessment involves the examination of proofs of compliance, inspections, and int erviews by accreditation assessors to discover any shortcomings so adjustments and corrections can be made prior to the formal On -Site Assessment. H. On-Site Assessment – The final three (3) day examination of proofs of compliance, inspe ctions, and interview o f agency personnel by accreditation assessors to verify that the agency complies with applicable accreditation standards. I. Proof(s) of Compliance – Verification by documentation and/or demonstration that the agency fully complies with the letter and spir it of an accreditation standard. J. Self Assessment – A process by which the agency endeavors to achieve compliance with applicable standards, establishes proofs of compliance, and facilitates the mock and final on-site assessments. Review of organizational, ma nagerial, operational, and administrative operations are conducted during this time period. Self Assessment is generally conducted within the three (3) year period between on -site assessments, or within the two -year period prior to an initial on -site inspection. K. Standard – Declarative statement that places a clear -cut requirement, or multiple requirements, on an agency. V. PROCEDURES: A. BENEFITS OF ACCREDITATION 1. Historical Perspective - In 1993, Florida Statute 943.125 directed that the Florida Sheriffs’ Asso ciation and the Florida Police Chiefs’ Association create a voluntary state law enforcement accreditation program. Today, the Commission consists of Chiefs of Police, Sheriffs, City Manager s, County Commissioner s, and Circuit Judge s from across the Sta te of Florida. The Commission meets three times a year to oversee the accreditation program and to officially accredit agencies which have passed the rigorous review process. 2. Benefits - Accreditation recognizes professional excellence and is the highest hono r that can be bestowed upon a law enforcement agency. The accreditation process provides the following benefits: a) Provides a thorough review of agency status and readiness every three (3) years; b) Reinforces the agency’s ability to maintain the highest st andards of professional law enforcement services; c) Ensures that policies and procedures are documented in writing and that they are