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Accreditation
The Fernandina Beach Police Department was awarded “accredited status” by the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation on February 9, 2005 during a formal recognition ceremony in Kissimmee, Florida. Since then, the Fernandina Beach Police Department has been re-accredited in 2008, 2011, 2014, 2017 and 2020.
2014 Reaccreditation award. From left to right; Police Chief and Commission Chairman Jeffrey Chudnow, Deputy Police Chief Mark Foxworth, Police Chief Jim Hurley, Captain Jim Norman, and Executive Director Lori Mizell.
By insuring that proper policies and procedures are in place and that all facets of police operations are maintained within acceptable legal and professional limits, the accreditation process improves our ability to prevent and control crime by increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of our delivery of law enforcement services.
Our agency is compelled to operate within specific guidelines and is accountable to the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation, which conducts on-site visits and examines compliance with approximately 260 different performance standards. Our Police Department must stay within those compliance standards set forth by the Commission in order to retain its accreditation status, and must then pass systematic reviews by outside assessors.
Citizen confidence in our policies and practices, as viewed and documented by our state-mandated oversight board, has provided us with a strong foundation from which to grow our community policing philosophy and to increase the active participation of local stakeholders.
As an added bonus, Fernandina Beach Police Department employees naturally take great pride in the fact that their agency is fully accredited, knowing that it represents the very best in law enforcement.
2014 Reaccreditation award. From left to right; Police Chief and Commission Chairman Jeffrey Chudnow, Deputy Police Chief Mark Foxworth, Police Chief Jim Hurley, Captain Jim Norman, and Executive Director Lori Mizell.
Significance
Accreditation is a coveted award that symbolizes professionalism, excellence, and competence within the law enforcement community.By insuring that proper policies and procedures are in place and that all facets of police operations are maintained within acceptable legal and professional limits, the accreditation process improves our ability to prevent and control crime by increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of our delivery of law enforcement services.
Process
The accreditation process requires an in-depth review of every aspect of the agency, to include administration, organizational structure, management, supervision, and operations.Our agency is compelled to operate within specific guidelines and is accountable to the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation, which conducts on-site visits and examines compliance with approximately 260 different performance standards. Our Police Department must stay within those compliance standards set forth by the Commission in order to retain its accreditation status, and must then pass systematic reviews by outside assessors.
Purpose
Accreditation serves to enhance general and specific understanding of the Fernandina Beach Police Department, our goals and objectives, as well as our role as a community partner.Citizen confidence in our policies and practices, as viewed and documented by our state-mandated oversight board, has provided us with a strong foundation from which to grow our community policing philosophy and to increase the active participation of local stakeholders.
As an added bonus, Fernandina Beach Police Department employees naturally take great pride in the fact that their agency is fully accredited, knowing that it represents the very best in law enforcement.