Public Comments Sought In Review Of Bradenton Police Department

BRADENTON, FL — A team of assessors from the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFA) will come to Bradenton July 20 to examine all aspects of the Bradenton Police Department’s policies and procedures, management, operations, and support services, the agency said in a news release.

The department has to comply with approximately 260 standards in order to receive accredited status. Many of the standard are critical to life, health and safety issues, Bradenton police said.

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 calling the Bradenton Police Department’s Public Information Officer, Captain Brian Thiers, at 941-932-9364.

Those who want to provide written comments about the department’s ability to meet the standards of accreditation can mail them to CFA, P.O. Box 1489, Tallahassee, Florida 32302 email them to info@flaccreditation.org.

Billy Walls, the department’s accreditation program manager, said that 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.

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The CFA assessment team leader is Juli Brown with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Other team members are Miriam Simon with the Coral Springs Police Department and Detective Shawn Strickland with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.

Once the assessors complete their review of the agency, they report back to the full commission, which will then decide if the agency is to receive accredited status, the department said. The Bradenton Police Department’s accreditation is for three years.

“Verification by the team that the Bradenton Police Department meets the commission’s standards is part of a voluntary process to gain or maintain accreditation – highly prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence,” Chief Bevan said. “The Bradenton Police Department is proud to participate in the accreditation process of the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation and welcomes the assessment team to the city of Bradenton.”