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After that overview, member Randy Coyner will report on the costs of accreditation by the CFA. The $1,800 annual fee is only part of the true cost, which includes either a part- time or full-time employee of the department to stay on top of the paperwork, even between accreditation cycles. At the panel's next meeting, member Bill Fuller will report on the benefits of accreditation. The CFA website has a full page of them, one of which applies directly to DiPino's action. The website says, "The agency is compelled to operate within specific guidelines. It is accountable to the Commission. The agency must stay in compliance with the standards set forth by the Commission in order to retain its accreditation." Member Dedra Anderson pulled a harder assignment. She will sift through records to determine why DiPino pulled the depart- ment's accreditation. "I'll be looking for items not meeting accreditation standards at the time the decision was made," she said. Her findings may not be ready in time for the next meeting. Chairwoman Eileen Normile's assignment is to prepare for the second phase of the pan- el's inquiry — interviews. The group decided to talk publicly with people involved in the accreditation process and the chief's deci- sion-making regarding the cancelling of the existing accreditation. Because of Florida open meeting requirements, Normile hopes all five members of the panel will be available for the interview phase of the proceedings. A powerful combo, former prosecutor Eileen Normile and investigative CPA Randolph Coyner consider who should do what during the Independent Police Advisory Panel's review of the decision to drop accreditation of the Sarasota Police Department. Photo by Stan Zimmerman Sarasota News Leader August 8 & 15, 2014 Page 28