042-1999 LTC
CITY OF MIAMI
BEACH
CITY HALL 1700 CONVENTION CENTER DRIVE MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA 33139
http:\\ci.miami-beach.fl.us
42-1999
L.T.C. No.
LETTER TO COMMISSION
February 16, 1999
TO:
Mayor Neisen o. Kasdin and
Members of the City C mission
FROM:
Sergio Rodriguez
City Manager
SUBJECT:
LAW ENFORCEMENT ACCREDIT A TION
This Letter to the Commission is to advise the Mayor and City Commission of the status of the Police
Department's quest for national accreditation from the Commission for Accreditation of Law Enforcement
Agencies (CALEA). This voluntary accreditation program for law enforcement agencies is ajoint effort of
CALEA, the International Association of Chiefs of Police (lACP), the National Organization of Black Law
Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), the National Sheriffs Association (NSA), and the Police Executive
Research Forum (PERF).
The Commission for Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies was formed in 1979 to establish a body
of standards designed to: (I) increase a law enforcement agency's capabilities to prevent and control crime;
(2) increase an agency's effectiveness and efficiency in the delivery oflaw enforcement services; (3) increase
cooperation and coordination with other law enforcement agencies and other agencies of the criminaljustice
system; and (4) increase citizen and employee confidence in the goals, objectives, policies and practices of
the agency. In addition, the Commission was formed to develop an accreditation process that provides law
enforcement agencies an opportunity to demonstrate voluntarily that they meet an established set of
professional standards.
The Police Department initiated this three-year project in October 1997. This project involves a complete
review of every policy and procedure in the Police Department. The Police Department is in the Self-
Assessment Phase of the project which involves the rewriting of all policies and procedures to conform with
Accreditation Standards. As the new policies and procedures are written, they are reviewed by all Majors,
Captains and Lieutenants. All of these employees are encouraged to critically review the proposed policies
or procedures so that the maximum amount of input can be obtained. At the same time, our Accreditation
management team is conducting a department-wide Power Point presentation that familiarizes each employee
with the Accreditation process. Lastly, our Accreditation team is creating the necessary files that will be
reviewed by an assessment team sent by the Commission on Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies.
The Police Department expects to have its new Operations Manual (with all new policies and procedures
published), its employees trained in the new policies and procedures and a site visit by CALEA Assessors
by January 2000. It is anticipated that the Police Department will receive its award of Accreditation by
CALEA at its first quarterly meeting in March 2000.
SRl~/PS
F:\POLI\TECHSER V\POLICIES\COM _ MEMO\accrcditation status Itc. wpd
CITY OF MIAMI
BEACH
CITY HALL 1700 CONVENTIOt'! CENTER DRIVE MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA 33139
http:\\cLmiami-beach.fl.us
.____ww_____..___________________________..._____...__---------------------------.-----------------------.----------------------------------------.-.------.------.------.------....----.-.-.----.-.----....-------------------.-.----------
._____________________________________________________________________....__________.._______________________._______n_________________________________.____________________________._._______________________.______n____un_____________._
---------------------------------------:::
L.T.C. No.
LETTER TO COMMISSION
u~~~
TO:
Mayor Neisen O. Kasdin and
Members ofthe City Commission
FROM:
Sergio Rodriguez
City Manager
SUBJECT:
LAW ENFORCEMENT ACCREDITATION
This Letter to the Commission is to advise the Mayor and City Commission of the status of the Police
Department's quest for national accreditation from the Commission for Accreditation of Law Enforcement
Agencies (CALEA). This voluntary accreditation program for law enforcement agencies is ajoint effort of
CALEA, the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), the National Organization of Black Law
Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), the National Sheriffs Association (NSA), and the Police Executive
Research Forum (PERF).
The Commission for Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies was formed in 1979 to establish a body
of standards designed to: (I) increase a law enforcement agency's capabilities to prevent and control crime;
(2) increase an agency's effectiveness and efficiency in the delivery oflaw enforcement services; (3) increase
cooperation and coordination with other law enforcement agencies and other agencies of the criminal justice
system; and (4) increase citizen and employee confidence in the goals, objectives, policies and practices of
the agency. In addition, the Commission was formed to develop an accreditation process that provides law
enforcement agencies an opportunity to demonstrate voluntarily that they meet an established set of
professional standards.
The Police Department initiated this three-year project in October 1997. This project involves a complete
review of every policy and procedure in the Police Department. The Police Department is in the Self-
Assessment Phase of the project which involves the rewriting of all policies and procedures to conform with
Accreditation Standards. As the new policies and procedures are written, they are reviewed by all Majors,
Captains and Lieutenants. All of these employees are encouraged to critically review the proposed policies
or procedures so that the maximum a~nt of input can be obtained. At the same time, our Accreditation
management team is conducting ~epartment-wide Power Point presentation that familiarizes each
employee with the Accreditation process. Lastly, our Accreditation team is creating the necessary files that
will be reviewed by an assessment team sent by the Commission on Accreditation of Law Enforcement
Agencies.
The Poli part:ent expects to have its new Operations Manua"ith all new policies and procedures
publishe employees trained in the new policies and procedures and ~ a site visit by CALEA Assessors
by Janu ~~cIt is anticipated that the Police Department will receive its award of Accreditation by
CALEA at ~t quarterly meeting in March 2000.
SRlRB/JS/PS )P'~. (}\I'-t. ~
F:\PO~ECHSERV\POLIC1ES\COM_MEMO\aCCreditation status Itc.wpd