NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release
February 13, 2007


ACCREDITATION TEAM INVITES PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING
CLEARWATER POLICE DEPARTMENT

A team of assessors from the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFA) arrives in Clearwater on Tuesday, March 13, 2007, to examine all aspects of the Clearwater Police Department's (CPD) Policies and Procedures, management, operations and support services, Chief Sid Klein announced today.

To comply with the rigorous accreditation standards, the department must exhibit to the Commission that it has maintained compliance with about 260 standards of professionalism to continue its accredited status, first earned May 1998.

As part of the on-site assessment, the public is invited to offer comments to the assessment team for review; providing input and observations for the inspectors may be done by calling (727) 562-4179 on Wednesday, March 14, 2007, between 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. Telephone comments are limited to 10 minutes, and must specifically address CPD's ability to comply with the CFA standards. A copy of the standards is available at the CFA website www.flaccreditation.org, or from CPD's Public Information Officer at 562-4333.

For more information regarding CFA - or for persons wishing to offer written comments about CPD's ability to meet the standards of accreditation - please write to the address below or visit the Commission's web site at www.flaccreditation.org:

The Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation, Inc.
3504 Lake Lynda Drive, Suite 380
Orlando, Florida 32817

CPD's Accreditation Program Manager is Sergeant Daniel Slaughter, who said the assessment team is composed of police practitioners from other law enforcement agencies. The assessors will review written materials, interview department employees and visit offices and other places where compliance with the standards can be observed.

The CFA Assessment Team Leader is Michael Somberg of the Broward County Sheriff's Office. Other team members are Joe Hall of the Panama City Police Department and Don Sorli of the Gainesville Police Department.

Once the Commission's assessors complete their review of CPD, they report back to the full Commission, which will then decide if the Clearwater Police Department is qualified to maintain its accredited status. Clearwater's accreditation status lasts for three years. Verification by the team that CPD complies with Commission standards is part of a voluntary process to gain or maintain accreditation - a highly prized validation of law enforcement excellence and professionalism. CPD's compliance status will be reviewed at the Commission's June 2007 meeting of the full board.

For additional information regarding the on-site inspection, please contact Clearwater Police Public Information Officer Wayne Shelor at (727)-562-4333.

/s/

SID KLEIN

Chief of Police