Florida Police Chiefs Association Update: Week Ending February 22, 2013
Feb 22, 2013
The following is an informational update on law enforcement news, events, legislative developments and meetings relating to the Florida Police Chiefs Association community for the week ending February 22, 2013. Click on the hyperlinks in bold type to access all information.
Should you have any questions or comments, please contact Florida Police Chiefs Association lobbyists, Colodny Fass& Webb.
NEWS
Florida task force recommends keeping “stand your ground” law
A Florida task force on Friday recommended that the state’s controversial “stand your ground” law not be overturned.
U.S. Supreme Court overturns Florida ruling on drug sniffing dog rules
A Florida Supreme Court ruling that drug sniffing dogs need to have an “exhaustive set of records” to prove they’re reliable before their evidence can be used just doesn’t pass the smell test, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Tuesday.
Florida Won’t Enforce International Driving Permit Law
The Florida Highway Patrol has delayed, if not scrapped, plans to enforce a state law passed last year that requires foreign drivers to carry international driver permits in addition to driver licenses.
Hit and runs are on law enforcement’s hit list, say officers
There are many reasons a driver in a crash may leave the scene – fear, lack of a license, drinking – but none are worth the trouble that the hit-and-run scenario will cause that driver, the Florida Highway Patrol says.
Law enforcement officials gather to discuss on fight against ID theft
About 85 law enforcement officers are gathering in Cocoa today to learn how to better combat and investigate identity theft.
Fighting Over Concealed Firearm Rules in Gun-Friendly Florida
A tough battle is being waged over gun laws and ways to address gun violence in Florida, a state known to have some of the least restrictive firearm laws in the country.
Florida police commanding officer fired in wake of court appearance
A top official of the Florida Highway Patrol is out of a job, and other members may be in trouble. It all stems from a deadly accident caused by a trooper last year.
Florida prison deficit balloons to $95.2 million
Florida prisons are saving money by getting better deals on paper towels, toilet paper, prescription drugs and bar soap while inmates are wearing cheaper shoes, all in response to a budget deficit that’s ballooned to $95.2 million.
New “Smart Justice” bill would offer treatment for drug offenders
A new proposal announced Tuesday-dubbed “Smart Justice”-would change the way Florida deals with non-violent drug offenders.
More law enforcement agencies requiring written consent to search vehicles
On Monday night, a Lee County deputy prepared to write a driver a warning for not wearing a seat belt and having his windows tinted. But before he did, the deputy noticed Linton Harris’s hands shaking and beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
Florida bill would expand funeral protest ban
Legislation that would expand a ban on protesting, picketing and other disturbances at all funerals, memorial services and burials in Florida, rather than just those involving military honor details, is on a fast track after final committee approval Tuesday.
Elgin deputy chief to become Sanford, Florida top cop
The deputy police chief in Elgin will soon be the new chief in the city where Trayvon Martin was shot and killed.
New Port Richey Police Chief Resigns
New Port Richey Police Chief James Steffens is stepping down to take a position with the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office.
New police chief takes reins in St. Augustine Beach
Accreditation and a return to a “family atmosphere” are among his many goals
When he took over the St. Augustine Beach Police Department, new Chief Robert Hardwick made improving morale one of his top priorities at an agency that has been battered by internal problems and public scrutiny.
Tarpon Springs Police Department Gets Accreditation Status
Tarpon Springs Police Chief Robert P. Kochen announced Thursday that the Tarpon Springs Police Department earned its initial Accreditation status.
Consulting firm outlines plan to fill police chief position
Representatives Richard and Irina Fursman of the consulting firm, Brimeyer Fursman Company, attended the regular meeting of the Petersburg Borough Assembly Tuesday evening to update the assembly members of their plan to fill the position of retiring Petersburg Police Chief, Jim Agner.
REPORTS
Methamphetamine (meth) lab incidents – seizures of labs, dumpsites, chemicals, and glassware – declined following state and federal sales restrictions on pseudoephedrine (PSE), an ingredient commonly found in over-the-counter cold and allergy medications, but they rose again after changes to methods in acquiring PSE and in the methods to produce meth.
Since the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) began operations in 2003, it has implemented key homeland security operations and achieved important goals and milestones in many areas to create and strengthen a foundation to reach its potential. As it continues to mature, however, more work remains for DHS to address gaps and weaknesses in its current operational and implementation efforts, and to strengthen the efficiency and effectiveness of those efforts
Models for Change: Risk Assessment in Juvenile Justice: A Guidebook for Implementation
This guide provides a structure for juvenile probation or centralized statewide agencies striving to implement risk assessment or to improve their current risk assessment practices. Risk assessment in this guide refers to the practice of using a structured tool that combines information about youth to classify them as being low, moderate, or high risk for reoffending or continued delinquent activity, as well as identifying factors that might reduce that risk on an individual basis. Risk assessment tools help WHO make decisions about youths’ placement and supervision, and create intervention plans that will reduce their level of risk. The guide provides customizable documents, including office policy templates, memoranda of agreement, and presentation slides to educate stakeholders about risk assessment.
The number of defendants with cases disposed in federal district courts more than doubled from 45,635 in 1995 to 100,622 in 2010. The number of defendants with cases disposed who were detained pretrial increased by 184%, from 27,004 in 1995 to 76,589 in 2010. Growth in the number of pretrial detentions was driven primarily by immigration caseloads, which increased by 664%, from 5,103 cases in 1995 to 39,001 in 2010. The percentage of drug defendants detained pretrial increased from 76% in 1995 to 84% in 2010. Weapons caseloads nearly tripled between 1995 and 2010, and the percentage of weapons defendants detained pretrial increased from 66% to 86% during the same period.
One in four dating teens is abused or harassed online or through texts by their partners, according to the largest survey to date on the subject. Social networking sites, texts, cell phones, and e-mails haven’t pushed abuse rates up, but they have given abusers another way to control, degrade, and frighten their partners, even when apart. Digital harassment warns of a deeper pattern of abuse offline. Victims are two times more likely to be physically abused, two-and-a-half times more likely to be psychologically abused, and five times more likely to be sexually coerced.
Studies estimate that about 1 in every 5 girls and 1 in every 7 to 10 boys are sexually abused. In 2006, Congress passed the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, which introduced new sex offender registration standards for all 50 states and U.S. territories.
This report describes background checks for firearm transfers conducted in 2010. Since the inception of the Brady Act, over 118 million applications for firearm transfers or permits were subject to background checks. About 2.1 million applications, or 1.8%, were denied. In 2010, 1.5% of the 10.4 million applications for firearm transfers or permits were denied by the FBI (approximately 73,000) or by state and local agencies (approximately 80,000). Among the 21 state agencies that reported reasons for denial, a felony conviction or indictment was the most common reason to deny an application in 2010 (31%). A state law prohibition (16%) was the second most common reason (excluding other prohibitions).
REGULATORY ACTION
REPEALED: Florida Rule 6D-12.002 providing for a Campus Police Department at the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind was repealed, effective February 18, 2013.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
February 26
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT SERVICES
Division of Communications
The Florida Department of Management Services announces a public meeting to which all persons are invited.
DATE AND TIME: February 26, 2013, 9:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
PLACE: Betty Easley Conference Center 4075 Esplanade Way, Room 152, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0950. The Call-In Number is: (888) 670-3525, pass code: 764900010.
GENERAL SUBJECT MATTER TO BE CONSIDERED: The JTF Board will consider and vote on business related to the Statewide Law Enforcement Radio System (SLERS), including project enhancement, budget and expenditures, SLERS Partners and Project 25 Strategic Plan.
A copy of the agenda may be obtained by contacting: Debi Smith (850) 922-7435, Debi.Smith@DMS.MyFlorida.com.
Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this workshop/meeting is asked to advise the agency at least 14 days before the workshop/meeting by contacting: Debi Smith,(850) 922-7435, Debi.Smith@DMS.MyFlorida.com. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service, (800)955-8771 (TDD) or (800)955-8770 (voice). For more information, you may contact: Debi Smith, (850) 922-7435, Debi.Smith@DMS.MyFlorida.com.
March 12
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT
Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement announces a public meeting to which all persons are invited.
DATE AND TIME: March 12, 2013, 10:00 a.m.
PLACE: Indian River State College, Criminal Justice Institute, 4600 Kirby Loop Road, Ft. Pierce, FL 34981.
GENERAL SUBJECT MATTER TO BE CONSIDERED: The Criminal Justice Professionalism Program announces a public meeting for a Probable Cause Determination to which all persons are invited to attend. The purpose is to determine if probable cause exists to proceed with possible disciplinary action against certain criminal justice officers.
A copy of the agenda may be obtained by contacting: Lori Morea, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Criminal Justice Professionalism Program, Bureau of Standards, Professional Compliance Section, P. O. Box 1489, Tallahassee, Florida, 32302, (850)410-8625 or by email at lorimorea@fdle.state.fl.us. For more information, you may contact: Training and Research Manager Stacy Lehman, FDLE Professional Compliance Section, at (850) 410-8645.