Third-Party to Evaluate Marion County Sheriff's Office Operations

Members of the public will have the opportunity to give input on the Marion County Sheriff’s Office as it seeks law enforcement accreditation.

The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, a third-party organization, will assess the sheriff’s operations. A virtual meeting will be held Monday evening at 6 p.m. for members of the public to provide feedback on how the department is doing.

Col. James Martin said the commission will look at the office’s policies, procedures, management and support services. 

“Basically, it’s an evaluation on how well our agency is performing and whether or not we live up to the latest and greatest standards,” Martin said, adding that there are 145 standards that the office needs to meet to receive the commission’s approval.

The commission should reach its decision in the next week, he said.

The accreditation process is also an opportunity for the sheriff’s department to reflect on which policies are working well and which ones need to be changed, Martin said. The office has received other accreditations in the past, but this year’s is the first to his knowledge that has captured media and public attention.

“I think 2020 changed a lot of things, you know, a call for transparency and people I think are just more aware,” he said.