Florida Police Chiefs Association Update: Week Ending March 29, 2013
Mar 28, 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 March 29, 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
Blog: Criminals among the 225 immigrants freed by ICE in Florida after sequester
José López was at the Krome detention center awaiting possible deportation to his native Nicaragua when, on Feb. 26, immigration officials suddenly released him.
Florida cops freeze $100 million in bank accounts tied to Allied Veterans
State and local agents have frozen $100 million in bank accounts connected to Allied Veterans of the World, the chain of Internet cafes that Florida law enforcement officials raided last week in a crackdown on what they described as scores of illegal casinos.
Police Chief: Loud Stereo Bill Needs Hearing
Tampa’s police chief is urging neighborhood groups and residents to be loud and clear with lawmakers about supporting a bill to enable police to cite motorists whose car stereos blare loudly.
Banning drones gaining steam in Florida
Ever get the feeling that you’re being watched?
Attempt to lower red light camera fines shot down in Florida Senate
Red light runners would have paid less for getting violations and had more time to pay them under SB 1342 by Senator Joe Abruzzo, D-Wellington, but the lobbying muscle of the agencies and governments that produce revenue from the fines overturned it.
Most gun bills are languishing in firearm-friendly Florida legislature
SB 1678, Senator Audrey Gibson, D-Jacksonville. Requires people to take anger management classes before purchasing ammunition.
- Column: Everything’s just dandy here in gun-crazed Florida
- The Florida Current’s Policy Note: Gun Control
Senate Panel Blocks Ignition Interlock Proposal
A proposal that would grant judges the final say on whether someone convicted of a DUI offense could opt for an interlock ignition device was blocked Thursday by a Senate committee.
Florida legislators struggling with school safety
The mass school shooting in Connecticut led officials to question if more should be done to beef up security in Florida’s public classrooms.
Florida deaths associated with drug use dropped modestly in the first half of 2012 compared with the same period a year earlier, a decline officials linked to a crackdown on pill mills and better prescription drug tracking.
The Florida Current’s Policy Note: Synthetic Cannabis/Bath Salts
For many years, Florida police agencies have struggled to keep up with new versions of synthetic “designer” drugs, often sold in convenience stores until deemed illegal.
PolitiFact Florida: Texting statistic misses the mark
After years of dead ends, Florida lawmakers are again pushing for a law that would penalize motorists who text or email from behind the wheel.
Dennis “Denny” Jones, one of the Sunshine State’s top cops, wants to come home. The Tallahassee police chief and former Daytona Beach police chief is among seven semi-finalists in the running to become New Smyrna Beach’s next police chief.
Dennis “Denny” Jones, one of the Sunshine State’s top cops, wants to come home.
Daytona’s top cop lowers crime
As he began his seventh year at the helm of the Daytona Beach Police Department, Police Chief Mike Chitwood was not without a fresh controversy.
Bogart in As Interim Police Chief
Kim Bogart, a former candidate for Pasco County Sheriff, was appointed today as interim chief of the New Port Richey Police Department.
New Opa-Locka police chief sworn in
Opa-Locka police officers performed a drug bust on the same day their embattled department introduced a new police chief, Wednesday.
Auburndale Police Department Receives Re-accreditation
Auburndale Police Chief Chris Nelson was presented with his department’s first reaccreditation at Monday night’s City Commission meeting.
Brevard police honor heroic peers
Dozens of police officers and sheriff’s deputies from across Brevard County had dinner to celebrate good works from 2012 at the Officer of the Year Banquet held at the Hilton Rialto Wednesday evening.
New commission will discuss Boynton police department upgrades
Boynton Beach commission will discuss an age-old city issue- the Boynton Beach police department.
Largo Police Department to be Assessed
Starting April 7, a team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies will examine all aspects of the Largo Police Department’s policy and procedures, management, operations and support services.
Tarpon Police Officers Honored for Homeless Outreach, Accreditation
From receiving Accreditation status to being put in the spotlight for their homeless outreach efforts, it is no surprise that the City of Tarpon Springs honored the Tarpon Springs Police Department during Tuesday’s Board of Commissioners meeting at City Hall.
Ex-Windermere Police Chief accused of perjury
Daniel Saylor, the former Windermere police chief who pleaded no contest to covering up a child rape case against his friend, Scott Bush, has been arrested again.
REPORTS
U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics: Hate Crime Victimization, 2003-2011
From 2007 to 2011, an estimated annual average of 259,700 nonfatal violent and property hate crime victimizations occurred against persons age 12 or older residing in U.S. households. Across the periods from 2003 to 2006 and 2007 to 2011, there was no change in the annual average number of total, violent, or property hate crime victimizations. The percentage of hate crimes motivated by religious bias more than doubled between 2003-06 and 2007 to 2011 (from 10% to 21%), while the percentage motivated by racial bias dropped slightly (from 63% to 54%). Violent hate crime accounted for a higher percentage of all nonfatal violent crime in 2007 to 2011 (4%), compared to 2003 to 2006 (3%); the percentage of hate crime victimizations reported to police declined from 46% to 35%.
This report highlights the past two decades of Connecticut’s efforts to improve responses to youth who engage in delinquent behavior and to reduce the number of youth placed into detention centers, correctional training schools, and/or other residential facilities. Specifically, the state reduced residential commitments from 680 in 2000 to 216 in 2011 (nearly 70%), even though most 16-year-olds, who were previously treated as adults, are now handled in the juvenile system. The state also has closed one of its three state-operated detention centers and reduced the under 18 population in Connecticut’s adult prisons from 403 in January 2007 to 151 in July 2012. Meanwhile, Connecticut expanded its investment in evidence-based, family-focused adolescent treatment programs from $300,000 in 2000 to $39 million in 2009.
Florida Appellate Law Alert: The Indigo Room, Inc. et al. v. City of Fort Myers
An ordinance that prohibited minors from being in drinking establishments did not violate First Amendment rights even though the minor had entered the establishment to sign a political petition.
REGULATORY UPDATE
Final Adopted Rules (Click on the hyperlink to access the complete Rule text)
- Effective March 25, 2013:
UPCOMING MEETINGS
May 2
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT
Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission
The Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute Police Board announces a public meeting to which all persons are invited.
DATE AND TIME: Wednesday May 2, 2012, 1:00 p.m.
PLACE: Sheraton Sand Key Resort, 1160 Gulf Blvd., Clearwater Beach, Florida 33767
GENERAL SUBJECT MATTER TO BE CONSIDERED: An emergency meeting was held by the FDLE Criminal Justice Professionalism Program’s Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute (FCJEI) Policy Board to discuss tuition increases for FCJEI courses, to aid in increasing the revenue for the diminishing funds (due to the economy) in the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Trust Fund, which is the major funding source for the Criminal Justice Professionalism Program. In addition, the FCJEI held election of a new chairperson of the policy board, provided updates to FCJEI Policy Board members on all FCJEI courses, discussed creating a consistent instructor fee structure to include online training initiatives, and provided an update on the status of the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Trust Fund.
The FCJEI agreed to increase the tuition fees for the FCJEI leadership courses; however, the policy board decided to discuss the tuition increases with Florida Sheriff’s Association and Florida Police Chief’s Association prior to moving forward with the fee increases. The FCJEI Policy Board advised that further assessment of instructor fees would be conducted prior to making a final decision. The FCJEI Policy Board elected Punta Gorda, Chief of Police Albert “Butch” Arenal, Chairperson of the Police Board and approved the meeting minutes from June 10, 2010, FCJEI Policy Board Meeting.
A copy of the agenda may be obtained by contacting: Kristi Gordon, Bureau Chief, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, 2331 Phillips Road, Tallahassee, Florida 32308, (850)410-7373, email: kristigordon@fdle.state.fl.us. For more information, you may contact: Kristi Gordon, Bureau Chief, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, 2331 Phillips Road, Tallahassee, Florida 32308, (850)410-7373 or email: kristigordon@fdle.state.fl.us.