[PHOTO CREDIT: Facebook / Leesburg Police Department]
[Original Publish Date: 10/28/20]
LEESBURG, Florida — The Leesburg Police Department is seeking re-accreditation and the public invited to share their comments and opinions on the department.
The Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFA) will assess LPD from Dec. 8 through Dec. 10, according to a press release.
“The assessment team’s purpose is to examine all aspects of the Leesburg Police Department’s policies and procedures, management, operations and support services,” LPD Chief Robert W. Hicks said in the release.
LPD first received accreditation in 2018 and re-accreditation is required every three years, according to the release. Law enforcement agencies must comply with around 240 standards, many of them critical to life, health and safety issues.
A copy of the standards can be obtained by calling LPD’s Accreditation Program Manager, Lt. Gary Barrett at 352-728-9860. Barrett was recently named the 2019 Law Enforcement Assessor of the Year by the CFA, LPD announced on its Facebook page Tuesday.
To submit a written comment about LPD’s ability to meet accreditation standards, contact CFA at PO Box 1489, Tallahassee, FL 32303 or email info@flaccreditation.org.
“Verification by the team of assessors that Leesburg Police Department meets the Commission’s standards is part of a voluntary process to gain or maintain accreditation, a highly prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence,” Hicks said
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Our Editor-in-Chief, Marilyn M. Aciego, began writing for Lake Legal News in 2010. Born and raised in Lake County, she is a graduate of Umatilla High School and Lake-Sumter State College. She started her journalism career at LSSC, where she was editor of both student publications, The Angler and The Odyssey. Her professional career began at the Daily Commercial in 2004 where she covered cops and courts the majority of her time there until she left in 2009. Currently, along with being Editor-in-Chief of Lake Legal News, she is the Florida bureau chief for an international media organization. She has made more than two dozen appearances on live national television, including Nancy Grace and the Greta Van Susteren show, along with her appearance on Evil Twins. Contact her with breaking news, tips, and feedback by sending an e-mail to 352Tips@gmail.com. You can also contact us on our Facebook page — and make sure you “Like” and “Follow us” there. [PHOTO CREDIT: Bonnie Whicher]
