The Palm Bay Police Department was formally recognized by the City Council for earning a second Excelsior reaccreditation from the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation, a distinction the chief called “the highest standard of law enforcement professionalism in the state of Florida.”

City officials and the formal assessment team said the department complied with 209 accreditation standards, listed 21 standards as not applicable, and identified no standards out of compliance. The council moved and seconded a resolution to recognize the reaccreditation and approved it by voice vote.

In a presentation to the council, Chief Mario Augello said the department has about 300 staff members, including 206 sworn law-enforcement officer positions, and highlighted a recently expanded mental health and wellness initiative for officers and their families. “About a little bit over three years ago… we established a wellness program,” Augello said, adding that the department opened a fitness center called Project 129 in honor of a late chief’s badge number and brought in a certified wellness clinician to support personnel.

Mayor Medina and city officials praised the department’s performance. A prerecorded excerpt from the accreditation assessment noted the agency has “ingrained accreditation into everyday culture” and found the organization met necessary requirements after interviews and file reviews.

The reaccreditation was accompanied by a brief council discussion about the accreditation team’s review of complaints and the department’s handling of standards. Chief Augello thanked staff, the accreditation manager (Alyssa Snedeker), and the assessment team for the review process.

The council presented the recognition and will continue work on public-safety priorities alongside ongoing officer wellness and training efforts.