Press Release: Largo Police Department Receives Accreditation

Posted on Posted in Press Release

Largo, Florida Police Department
Receives Accreditation

June 25, 2024 (Santa Rosa, CA) Out to Protect president Greg Miraglia announced today that the Largo Police Department is the second law enforcement agency in the state of Florida to receive accreditation of its LGBT Law Enforcement Community Liaison Program.

Under the leadership of Chief Michael Loux, the Largo Police Department became the second law enforcement agency in Florida and fourth in the nation to receive accreditation of its LGBT Law Enforcement Liaison Program. Officer Alex Rocha leads the LGBT Liaison program and attended the LGBT Liaison Academy presented by Out to Protect in Orlando earlier this month. To receive accreditation, Officer Rocha submitted evidence of having met six rigorous accreditation standards that include:

  • The LGBT Law Enforcement Liaison Program is institutionalized and sustainable. 
  • The LGBT Liaison builds community relationships and trust. 
  • The LGBT Liaison has established communications pathways. 
  • The LGBT Liaison Is Engaged With The Community throughout the year. 
  • A full-time employee is currently assigned and trained to serve as the LGBT Liaison. 

The accreditation process includes a peer-review of the application and evidence of how the agency meets the standards. Largo Police Department staff met with the peer-review team to present various aspects of their program and answered questions about how they meet the accreditation standards.

Accreditation is good for three years and requires the agency to report annually on how it is maintaining the standards.

Greg Miraglia said, “I congratulate Chief Loux, Officer Rocha and the members of the Largo Police Department on their commitment to building a trustworthy relationship with the LGBTQ+ community in the City of Largo. Receiving accreditation is not an easy process and is nothing less than commendable.”