The Professional Compliance Unit oversees the Department's international and state accreditation initiatives and manages ongoing policy review.
Accreditation is a voluntary process in which a law enforcement agency partners with an accrediting organization to evaluate policies, practices and overall compliance with established professional standards and best practices. The intent is to:
- Strengthen the Department's ability to reduce crime
- Improve the effectiveness and efficiency of Department services
- Promote cooperation and coordination with other agencies
- Increase public and employee confidence in Department operations
The Department was first accredited in 1985 by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) and was the sixth agency to be accredited. Today, it is the longest CALEA-accredited municipal agency. In 2006, CALEA recognized the Department for its sustained professional excellence with an enhanced Certificate of Meritorious Accreditation, marking more than 15 years of accreditation. The Department has since achieved 11 reaccreditations, and in July 2026, received its seventh Certificate for Advanced Law Enforcement Accreditation.
In 2003, the Department earned accreditation from the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation, Inc. (CFA). The Department was awarded its seventh reaccreditation in October 2024 and was recognized for a third time as an Excelsior agency.
The accreditation process is continuous and requires the Department to engage in regular self-assessment to ensure that it consistently delivers best practices and high-quality services. Accrediting bodies conduct periodic remote and on-site evaluations to verify compliance with established professional standards. The Department is committed to this on-going effort and regularly undergoes self-assessment through routine reviews and staff inspections.
The Professional Compliance Unit can be reached at 727-551-3318.