19-256 Citizens Are Invited To Comment On Sheriff`s Office Services And Performance During Inspection For Agency Accreditation

Who:

Pinellas County Sheriff's Office

Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA)
13575 Heathcote Blvd, Suite 320
Gainesville, VA 20155
E-mail: calea@calea.org

CALEA On-Site Assessment Team:
Undersheriff Jason Cassalia
Onondaga County (NY) Sheriff's Office

Retired Lieutenant Andrew Spiess
Virginia Beach (VA) Police Department

CALEA Program Manager for Pinellas County Sheriff's Office:
Vincent Dauro

What:
A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) will be at the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office in November to examine all aspects of the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office policies and procedures, administration, operations and support services for the purpose of re-accreditation.

The inspection is part of the agency's voluntary commitment to maintain national accreditation, which is a highly recognized achievement and acknowledgement of professional excellence.

As part of the on-site assessment, there will be three opportunities for members of the community and agency members to offer comments on the agency's ability to meet accreditation standards.

When:
The assessment team will be on-site at the Sheriff's Office from November 4-7, 2019.

Opportunities for public comment are as follows:

Public Session:
5:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 6, 2019
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Administration Building
10750 Ulmerton Road, Largo

Call In:
3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 6, 2019
727-582-5989

Written Comments:
Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement, Inc. (CALEA)
13575 Heathcote Blvd, Suite 320
Gainesville, VA 20155.

Where:
(See above)

How/Why:
During their visit, the assessors will tour the facilities, interview agency members, conduct ride-alongs, attend read-off, and review accreditation files.

As part of the on-site assessment, agency members and citizens are invited to offer comments at a public session scheduled for 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 6, 2019. The session will be conducted at the Sheriff's Administration Building located at 10750 Ulmerton Road in Largo.

Persons who cannot attend the public session, may still provide comments to the assessment team by telephone at 727-582-5989 between the hours of 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 6, 2019.

Appearances as well as telephone comments are limited to 10 minutes and must address the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office ability to comply with CALEA standards. A copy of the standards is available for review at the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Policy Development and Accreditation Division, 10750 Ulmerton Road, Largo, Florida. Local contact may be made with Lt. Stacey Barrentine, Accreditation Manager, at (727) 582-6391.

Citizens who wish to submit written comments can mail them to CALEA at the address listed above.

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office must comply with 402 applicable standards in order to maintain its national accreditation status. Accreditation is for four years, during which the agency must submit annual reports attesting continued compliance with those standards under which it was accredited.

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office was first accredited in 1988 and has continuously maintained its national status. In fact, the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office was among the first in the nation to earn the Triple Crown Award for being nationally accredited in law enforcement, corrections and inmate health care.

For more information on the on-site inspection, please contact the Sheriff's Public Information Office, 727-582-6221.