Florida Police Chiefs Association Update–Week of January 23, 2012
Jan 27, 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 of January 23, 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
Prison privatization plan now goes to Senate floor
The Senate budget committee on Wednesday approved a version of a South Florida prison privatization plan, but the measure is now breaking allegiances on both sides of the aisle.
Crime is up in the City of Fort Myers
The Fort Myers Police Department has submitted the Annual Uniform Crime Report to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for review.
Bunnell sets pay for police chief
The search is on for a new top cop in Bunnell since Police Chief Arthur Jones announced he’s leaving in April and the City Council wants to find one willing to work for $50,000 and also help patrol the city.
The Flomaton Police Department is under investigation for an incident that allegedly occurred in Escambia County, Florida.
Former officer files suit against City of Clermont, Police Chief
Kyle Bermingham, fired as Clermont Police Department officer in April 2010, believes he had every right to complain.
Personal Injury Protection Reform Bill Drives Through House Panel Amid Opposition
A personal injury protection bill patterned after Florida’s workers’ compensation program ran into a buzz saw of opposition at a jam-packed committee room Wednesday, but emerged relatively unscathed.
- PIP bill moves through one House committee gets pulled from another
- Governor Rick Scott-backed bill to combat fraud advances in Florida House
- Governor Scott leads charge on changing no-fault insurance laws
- Florida Governor Scott Leads a PIP Rally for Reform
- Governor Scott PIP Media Conference Photos
- Governor Scott says PIP program ‘has to be fixed’
- Blog: Fired-up Governor Rick Scott champions House PIP reform critics call anti-consumer
- Governor Scott ratchets up PIP pressure
- Injured car accident victims would be forced to emergency rooms under lawmaker proposal
- Blog: PIP fight not just between political parties
- PIP reform would require emergency room visits for accident victims
- Florida drivers said to pay $1 billion more in auto insurance because of staged crashes
- Law Enforcement, Business Leaders & Consumers: Put the Brakes on Fraud
- The Politics of Florida PIP: Industry Looks on While Politicians Seek Answers
A former owner and operator of a Florida-based airline services company was sentenced today to serve 24 months in prison and to pay restitution for conspiring to commit wire fraud and honest services fraud in a kickback scheme to defraud Ryan International Airlines.
Editorial: Smart-Justice Reforms Are Good
A new poll shows that Floridians support criminal and juvenile-justice reforms that can reduce crime, reduce the recidivism rate of offenders and save the taxpayers’ money.
U.S. Supreme Court rules police must have warrants to use GPS trackers on cars
A U.S. Supreme Court decision made Monday means police in South Florida and the rest of the state can no longer secretly install GPS trackers on cars without a judge’s permission.
USA Today: Police get help with vets who are ticking bombs
The Justice Department is funding an unusual national training program to help police deal with an increasing number of volatile confrontations involving highly trained and often heavily armed combat veterans.
USA Today: Human trafficking a growing crime in the U.S.
The three men, authorities say, are all tied to a growing crime: human trafficking.
New York Times Editorial: Taking DNA From All Criminals Should Be Standard Procedure
We have a tool that can prevent hundreds of murders, rapes and robberies each year at minimal cost to taxpayers. But we’re not using it in a majority of cases because a state law restricts its use.
“I am confident that this new effort will improve our ability to ensure justice for victims; help restore faith in our financial markets and institutions; and allow us to answer the call that President Obama issued earlier this week, in his State of the Union address,” said Attorney General Holder.
A Comprehensive Funding Approach to Public Safety in Tribal Communities
Last week, the Justice Department announced the posting of the Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation, a comprehensive grant solicitation to support improvements to public safety, victim services and crime prevention in American Indian and Alaska Native communities.
REPORTS
Recent increases in prison admissions for opioid trafficking are primarily due to convictions for the prescription painkiller oxycodone. The majority of offenders admitted to prison for painkiller trafficking sold prescription painkillers to a confidential informant or undercover law enforcement officer. Most of these offenders have substance abuse problems and minimal prior criminal involvement. Criminal justice stakeholders, including judges, prosecutors, public defenders and law enforcement officials, have mixed opinions about the statute that addresses painkiller trafficking. Some are in favor of continuing the statute as written. Others have concerns about the impact of trafficking weight thresholds and minimum mandatory sentences, particularly as they relate to lower potency hydrocodone. If the Florida Legislature wishes to modify the statutory provisions for trafficking in prescription painkillers, options include reclassifying hydrocodone offenses; allowing courts to commit certain addicted offenders to treatment rather than prison; increasing weight thresholds for trafficking in prescription painkillers or changing how weights are calculated; and aligning minimum mandatory sentence lengths with those for most other drugs.
U.S. Department of Justice: Statistical Briefing Book Data Analysis Tool
This tool gives users access to detailed statistics on a variety of juvenile justice topics, allowing users to create tables on juvenile populations, arrests, court cases, and custody populations. The tool offers access to a wealth of information about juvenile crime and victimization and about youth involved in the juvenile justice system. Developed for the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention by the National Center for Juvenile Justice, the tool provides answers to questions the office most frequently receives from media, policymakers and the general public.
U.S. Government Accountability Office: Prescription Pain Reliever Abuse (Report GAO-12-115): Agencies Have Begun Coordinating Education Efforts, but Need to Assess Effectiveness
U.S. Government Accountability Office: Capitol Police (Report GAO-12-58): Retirement Benefits, Pay, Duties and Attrition Compared to Other Federal Police Forces
BILLS FILED
SB 2088 Relating to Municipal Police Pensions by the Senate Committee on Governmental Oversight and Accountability
SB 2088 revises the definition of the terms “compensation” or “salary.” Effective Date: July 1, 2012
SB 2084 Relating to State Employment by the Senate Committee on Governmental Oversight and Accountability
SB 2084 would revise provisions of law relating to the establishment of the State Personnel System, as well as provisions relating to educational opportunities for employees, bonuses and other awards, and tax-sheltered and special compensation benefits. The bill would provide a declaration of policy with respect to the establishment of the Civil Service, along with revising provisions relating to the list of exempt positions. A uniform classification system for civil service positions would be provided, as would a pay plan for civil service positions. Effective Date: July 1, 2012
MEETINGS
Monday, January 30
Florida House of Representatives Justice Appropriations Subcommittee
- Consideration of HB 759 Relating to False Reports to Law Enforcement Officers by State Representative Bill Hager
Tuesday, January 31
Florida Senate Committee on Criminal Justice
- Presentation by the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission on officer misconduct and disciplinary action (materials not yet available)
January 30-February 2
Criminal Justice Standards & Training Commission