Florida Police Chiefs’ Association Update: Week Ending May 11, 2012

May 14, 2012

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 May 11, 2012.  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.

 

NEWS

 

Ex-Cape Coral deputy chief may take helm of safety academy

‎After its former director resigned in the wake of a whistle-blower lawsuit, a new leader for the Southwest Florida Institute for Public Service will be appointed next week by the Lee County School Board.

 

U.S.A. Today:  New Sanford, Florida, police chief aims to ease racial tensions

‎The interim police chief taking over the Florida city force embroiled in controversy from the Trayvon Martin killing told USA Today

that he wants to improve race relations between his officers and the African-American community.

Ex-police chief fires back with lawsuit

‎Former West Melbourne Police Chief Brian Lock is suing the city and three city council members over his firing last week.

 

Florida still looking for balance between drug treatment, jail time

‎As Governor Rick Scott prepared to take office, his advisers released a document advocating he try a new approach to prisons, sending more nonviolent offenders to drug treatment instead of cells.

 

Annual tribute to law enforcement rooted in 1962 tragedy

‎A half-century has passed since Hillsborough County sheriff’s Sgt. Ben Wilder was killed and Deputy Perry Young seriously wounded by a man with a shotgun at a local home.

 

Fort Myers police officers cleared in 2011 shooting

‎Two Fort Myers police officers have been cleared in the shooting death of an armed suspect in September 2011.

 

Florida Police Rocked by Tax Refund Fraud Cases

‎She hosted “drop parties” in her house and used cash she stole from taxpayers to buy a new car, Gucci luggage and a pink handgun.

 

Dangers of Being in Uniform

Gunshots in Cape Coral.  Last year a Cape officer shot following a traffic stop and it was all caught on video.

 

Ethics complaint dismissed against Bonifay Police Chief

‎The Florida Commission on Ethics dismissed a complaint against Bonifay Police Chief Christopher Wells for lack of legal sufficiency, according to a report released on May 9.

 

Lock gone, but city may not be in the clear

It was almost a foregone conclusion that Brian Lock was going to be fired Thursday night from his job as West Melbourne’s police chief, a position he had for more than 20 years.

 

Deerfield employees can earn $100 for reporting crimes

Criminals, beware the gardener

This city has a new way of fighting crime:  Employees who are out and about, trimming trees or picking up litter on the beach, are officially on the lookout for signs of a crime.

 

Editorial:  Get right with “Right on Crime”

‎When it comes to “Right on Crime,” Governor Rick Scott is, well, wrong.

 

Editorial:  Florida Innocence Commission deserves life

With the stroke of a pen, Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy abolished the death penalty last week making that state the 17th in the country to abandon capital punishment.

 

 

REPORTS

 

Government Accountability Office:  Border Patrol Strategy — Progress and Challenges in Implementation and Assessment Efforts

GAO’s prior work has highlighted progress and challenges in various areas related to Border Patrol’s implementation of its 2004 National Strategy, which could provide insights as Border Patrol transitions to its 2012 Strategic Plan.

 

National Institute of Corrections:  Understanding Corrections through the APEX Lens

This guidebook “is the second book in the APEX Guidebook series and is designed to help correctional practitioners deepen their knowledge of the Public Safety Model domains.

 

United States Interagency Council on Homelessness:  Searching out Solutions–Constructive Alternatives to the Criminalization of Homelessness

Individuals and families experiencing street homelessness face many barriers on their path to stability. 

 

Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation (MDRC):  Returning to Work After Prison–Final Results from the Transitional Jobs Reentry Demonstration

More than 1.6 million people are incarcerated in prisons in the United States, and around 700,000 are released from prison each year.

 

 

MEETINGS

 

May 18

Cause Determination Hearings:  10 a.m.  Click to view the Agenda.  Hilton Ocala, 3600 SW 36th Avenue, Ocala, Florida  34474

  • June Regional Hearing – Agenda; Tallahassee
  • August Commission Meeting Agenda; Tampa

 

May 22

Regional 10 Criminal Justice Training School:  9:30 a.m.  Public meeting.  Southwest Florida Public Service Academy, 4312 Michigan Ave., Fort Myers, Florida.

 

June 7

Regional XI Training Council:  8:45 a.m. Clayton Hutchinson Agricultural Center, Exhibit Hall “A”, 559 Military Trail, West Palm Beach, Florida.

 

July 10-12

2012 Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Annual Training SymposiumSawgrass Marriott, 1000 PGA TOUR Boulevard, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida  32082.  Toll-Free: 1-800-457-4653

 

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