VCSO Again Achieves High Marks In International Accreditation Process; 9th On-Site Review Since 1991

Date Added: November 22, 2017 5:31 pm

Andrew Gant
Office of Public Affairs & Media Relations

VCSO AGAIN ACHIEVES HIGH MARKS IN INTERNATIONAL ACCREDITATION PROCESS; 9TH ON-SITE REVIEW SINCE 1991

Sheriff Mike Chitwood and the entire Volusia County Sheriff’s Office are proud to announce the agency’s latest award of accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) – which visited Volusia County earlier this year to conduct an in-depth review of the agency.

The Sheriff’s Office has achieved CALEA accreditation every year since 1991. This year, the agency achieved an impressive 97 percent compliance with “other than mandatory standards” – far above the 80 percent required for accreditation, and a sign of the agency’s continued commitment to CALEA’s Gold Standard of excellence.  CALEA’s Commissioner, South Carolina Supreme Court Justice John Kittredge, was especially complimentary of the VCSO and praised the agency for its comprehensive approach to its overall business model and new philosophy.

“I’m beyond proud of this great agency and all it’s accomplished for the citizens of Volusia County,” Sheriff Chitwood said. “We’re just getting started, and we’re looking forward to an even brighter future for our agency and our entire county.”

It was the VCSO’s ninth on-site visit from CALEA since 1991. The review resulted in high marks across the board for an agency that spent 2017 implementing Sheriff Chitwood’s new vision for the future. The assessors noted that any transition from a previous administration brings inherent challenges – but “fortunately this potential was not realized during this transition” at VCSO.

“Now that the transition concludes into a period of stability under new leadership, the agency may now seek to improve these systems as the agency prepares for the future,” CALEA Team Leader William T. Dean Jr., Deputy Chief of the Virginia Beach, Va., Police Department, wrote in a 28-page assessment report. “A future that will likely continue to utilize the standards set forth by the Commission to perpetuate the Sheriff’s already demonstrated commitment to advancing the philosophy of community policing and inclusion to solving community issues regarding quality of life in Volusia County.”

One of the many programs highlighted by CALEA was the agency’s adaptability in changing its hiring and recruiting model to address staff vacancies. The agency received high marks for professionalism, social media presence, community engagement, juvenile programs, training, de-escalation and crime-fighting models. These successes were all due to the leadership within each of these areas, and the commitment of each and every member of the agency.