Gulf Breeze Police Department is recognized with Excelsior Status, placing the department in the top 10% of police departments in the state. It is the highest recognition the accreditation agency bestows. GBPD has consistently achieved perfect scores. After five perfect scores, a police department can achieve Excelsior Status. GBPD has received Excelsior Status consecutively since 2016. The GBPD was the first Law Enforcement Agency to the west of Tallahassee to be accredited.
The Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation, Inc.(CFA) is the accrediting agency for Law Enforcement in Florida. The Gulf Breeze Police Department, in an effort to set professional standards for Law Enforcement in North West Florida, elected to participate in the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation process in 1997.
Set to the same professional tone as accreditation programs required for schools, universities, and hospitals, the law enforcement accreditation program is recognized as a means of maintaining the highest standards of professionalism.
The accreditation certificate is awarded by an independent reviewing committee who conducts an on-site evaluation of the agencies policies, procedures and practices. The agency must meet hundreds of specific requirements and proscribed standards. The criteria–or standards–by which agencies are measured specify what should be addressed in agency policies and procedures. The standards evaluate all facets of an agency including administration, internal affairs operations, investigations, patrol, personnel, prisoner and court security, traffic, use of police force, and more.
The Certificate of Accreditation is awarded for a three year period.
Attaining accredited status demonstrates to the community that an agency is committed to maintaining the highest standards of professional law enforcement service. Fully compatible with the community policing philosophy, accreditation encourages greater cooperation and communication between citizens and law enforcement.
Starting in 1997, the Gulf Breeze Police Department worked toward accredited status. We strengthened and added more to our policies and procedures in order to comply with the required 258 standards.
On December 13, 1998, three law enforcement professionals from the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation came to Gulf Breeze Police Department For three days the assessors scrutinized and inspected our police department including our policies, procedures, physical plant, security, records, and much more. After an exhausting examination, the team of assessors revealed they would recommend to the Commission that we be awarded accredited status.
On February 9,1999, in a ceremony at a regular Commission meeting, the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation awarded the Gulf Breeze Police Department the hardearned Certificate of Accreditation, the first Law Enforcement Agency to the west of Tallahassee to be accredited.
Achieving accreditation through the Commission on Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation demonstrates the GBPD’s continued commitment to professionalism and excellence in the Gulf Breeze Police Department.
