Which agency may take disciplinary action for violations such as excessive force, sexual harassment, misuse of official position, and false statements during employment?

• A. Florida Department of Law Enforcement
• B. CJSTC
• C. Local Police Department
• D. Both the CJSTC and local agencies have disciplinary authority

Answer: (B)

Disciplinary authority over officer conduct that can affect certification and ongoing eligibility to serve is held by the statewide licensing body, not just the agency where the officer works. The Florida Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission (CJSTC) oversees certification and has the power to suspend or revoke an officer’s certification for misconduct such as excessive force, sexual harassment, misuse of official position, or making false statements. This ensures that accountability follows the credential across all agencies, not just within a single department. Local agencies can discipline their own personnel for workplace violations, but the CJSTC has the formal authority to sanction or revoke certification, which directly impacts an officer’s ability to remain employed in the criminal justice system statewide. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is not the body that handles these certification-disqualification actions, and while local agencies do discipline their staff, CJSTC is the designated authority for the certification-related discipline described.