News and Investigations

Sheriff Grady Judd is proud to announce that on March 25, 2021, the Polk County Sheriff's Office was recently awarded the Public Safety Communications Accreditation (PCSA) from CALEA* for a 7th consecutive time. The PSCA program requires agencies to comply with state-of-the-art standards in four basic areas: policy and procedures, administration, operations, and support services. The agency has been successful in achieving PSCA re-accreditation during every inspection since first being accredited in 2002.

The Polk County Sheriff's Office has had a longtime commitment to professional accreditation dating back to 1994, when the agency was first accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc.* (CALEA), for its law enforcement operations. PCSO has a total of 45 accreditations and re-accreditations since 1994. The agency also has three Awards of Excellence. Click here to learn more about our 10 accreditations.

Accreditation is a voluntary process that invites independent accrediting bodies to inspect and review agency policies and practices to determine if the agency is following state and national standards and best practices. Accreditation is a highly valued recognition for any law enforcement agency.
  
"We continue to open our agency to scrutiny from outside independent organizations whose jobs are to ensure we are adhering to best practices in a wide range of areas, from law enforcement and detention operations to telecommunications, purchasing, training, and medical services. We believe in transparency, innovation, and professional development. Our goal is to be ahead of the curve and leading the way among law enforcement agencies. I am so proud of the men and women in this agency who constantly and consistently go above and beyond to achieve excellence every day." - Grady Judd, Sheriff