May 3, 2023
City of Ocala

Re: Accreditation Team Invites Public Comments About the Ocala Police Department

Dear City of Ocala Citizens:

A team of assessors from the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFA) will arrive November 11-13, 2025, to examine all aspects of the Ocala Police Department’s policies and procedures, management, operations, and support services. The department will have to comply with approximately 260 standards in order to receive accredited status. Many of the standards are critical to life, health, and safety issues.

As part of the on-site assessment, agency members and the general public are invited to offer comments to the assessment team. A copy of the standards manual is available through the Ocala Police Department’s Professional Standards office, at 352-369-7000 or the Florida Commission for Law Enforcement Accreditation website.

For more information regarding CFA or for persons wishing to offer written comments about the Ocala Police Department’s ability to meet the standards of accreditation, please write: CFA, P.O. Box 1489, Tallahassee, Florida 32302, or email info@flaccreditation.org.

The Accreditation Program Manager for the Ocala Police Department is LaFayetta Hodges. The CFA assessment team is composed of law enforcement practitioners from similar agencies. The assessors will review written materials; interview individuals; and visit offices and other places where compliance can be witnessed.

Once the Commission’s assessors complete their review of the agency, they report back to the full Commission, which will then decide if the agency is to receive accredited status. The Ocala Police Department’s accreditation is for 3 years. Verification by the team that the Ocala 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.

Mike Balken
Chief of Police