A team of assessors from the prestigious Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. has completed an extensive review of the Florida Highway Patrol’s policies, procedures and law enforcement practices and announced that FHP has achieved gold standard re-accreditation. This is the first time FHP pursued and achieved the gold standard accreditation, which distinguishes FHP as a leading law enforcement agency in the nation.
“The FHP works tirelessly each and every day to ensure the safety of Floridians and visitors, and I am very proud of FHP’s continued professionalism,” said Terry L. Rhodes, Executive Director of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV). “FHP members have a very demanding job, and the gold standard accreditation recognizes the high standard in which they perform their duties.”
After a comprehensive evaluation of FHP’s records and an in-depth, onsite inspection, a review committee hearing was held on November 5 in Charleston, South Carolina. The review committee recommended, and the full CALEA Commission unanimously agreed, that FHP is in compliance with all mandatory national law enforcement standards and subsequently awarded FHP the Meritorious, Advanced Law Enforcement Accreditation. With this seventh award, FHP has maintained its accredited status with CALEA continuously since 1996.
“FHP is one of only eight other Highway Patrol agencies nationally who have gained accreditation through CALEA,” said Colonel Gene S. Spaulding, Director of the Florida Highway Patrol. “In today’s challenging times, it is critical that we lead by example and perform our law enforcement duties in a professional and courteous manner. FHP is committed to applying nationally-recognized best practices of law enforcement for the citizens and visitors of this great state. I am extremely proud of all of the men and women of the FHP who worked diligently to ensure FHP is among the best in the nation.”
During the onsite assessment, assessors toured several FHP facilities throughout the state including Orlando, Jacksonville, Lake City, Fort Myers, Tampa, Ocala, Havana and Tallahassee where they interviewed a number of command staff members, line officers, civilian personnel and the general public. The assessment team noted that professionalism, courtesy and respect are taken seriously among the FHP ranks, and the members of the FHP truly embrace the concept of public service.
The commission finalized their assessment report and determined that the FHP is an effective and professional law enforcement agency that provides quality service to a diverse service population during challenging economic times. The commission also added that the FHP works hard and uses the resources available to achieve their objectives and remains focused on providing courteous and responsive services to the citizens through a broad range of functions.
