BSO Receives Prestigious Honor For Fire-Rescue & Emergency Services

FORT LAUDERDALE (CBS4) - The Broward Sheriff's Office has led the way in many areas, such as it's user-friendly website. Now, the BSO has received a prestigious honor for its Department of Fire Rescue and Emergency Services.

The BSO is the first sheriff's agency in the world to receive the prestigious center for Public Safety Excellence's (CPSE) accreditation. The accredition was conferred August 1 in Denver where the Commission on Fire Accreditation International convened.

"This elite recognition means that every aspect of Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue was evaluated," said Sheriff Al Lamberti.

Lamberti was on hand as a technical rescue team did a demonstration of a high-angle emergency rescue to underscore the department's training and skill.

The intensive accreditation was completed over a 20-month period and evaluated all facets of operations.

"To lead men and women who want to and strive to be the best they can be in ther service, that makes my job easy as fire chief," said Neal de Jesus.

The assessment team examined equipment, training records and response time. Hundreds of pages of documents were provided and then a week long sight visit was made of every fire station in the county.

"They look at everything you do. You have to meet the highest possible standards. You can't just say you're the best. You have to prove you are the best," said Sheriff Lamberti.

The firefighters say their goal is to be even better tomorrow than today.

And whether you are in a crash, having a heart attack or your house is on fire; the Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue department wants you to know when you call them; you are not just in good hands, you're in the hands of the best.