Florence Police attain reaccreditation; council approves SRO agreement and patrol rifle purchases

Town officials reported on Aug. 5 that the Florence Police Department successfully completed reaccreditation under the Arizona Law Enforcement Accreditation Program.

Town staff said department leaders compiled the required proofs across multiple years and presented them to the accreditation commission without questions; staff characterized the result as unusually strong and praised the work of department leaders and support staff.

At the same meeting the council approved consent items that included: (1) an intergovernmental agreement with Florence Unified School District to provide three school resource officers; and (2) the purchase of 40 patrol rifles with optics and suppressors through a state or cooperative procurement in an amount not to exceed $76,953.08. Staff emphasized these were budgeted items and said the new equipment would replace older, loaned rifles that had been in use.

Why it matters: Reaccreditation is a standards‑based recognition of policies and procedures; the SRO agreement and equipment purchases affect school safety, departmental readiness and the department’s equipment inventory. Town staff said the SRO IGA and rifle purchase were part of routine budgeted public‑safety expenditures.

What’s next: The police department and town staff will complete contract paperwork for the SRO agreement and process procurement for the rifles. Council members encouraged public recognition of the department’s accreditation and noted continued coordination with schools on safety planning.