Florida Supreme Court Marshal’s Office wins rare law enforcement accreditation

The Florida Supreme Court Marshal’s Office has won a rare honor. It now is Florida’s first and only accredited law enforcement agency housed completely within a court.
The Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation awarded the Marshal’s Office accredited status at its June 2017 meeting. Its report said that the Marshal’s Office “is the first law enforcement agency within a judicial function in Florida to seek accreditation. Additionally, they are the only agency located within a judiciary anywhere in the nation to seek any type of accredited status.”
“Being accredited,” said Florida Supreme Court Marshal Silvester Dawson, “means this agency employs professional standards that are considered best practices in the law enforcement profession. This recognition not only reflects positively upon the Supreme Court of Florida. But it also communicates to citizens our commitment to excellence and to providing the same level of professionalism expected of any law enforcement agency anywhere in Florida.”
Prior to this award, Commission assessors examined all aspects of the Marshal’s policies and procedures, management, operations and support services on May 9, 2017. They met or exceeded about 130 standards in order to receive accredited status – with many of these standards critical to life, health and safety issues.
Once the Commission’s assessors completed their review, they reported back to the full Commission. It then reviewed all findings and awarded the agency accredited status, with the first accreditation period lasting the next three years.
Verification by the team that the Office 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, Dawson said.
“The accreditation program manager for the Office of the Marshal is Vicki Cutcliffe,” said Dawson. “She and all employees have done an outstanding job.”
Dawson has been the Supreme Court’s Marshal since 2011.