Florida Police Chiefs Association Update–Week of January 30, 2012
Feb 3, 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 30, 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
Senator Mike Fasano Stripped of Chairmanship after Speaking Against Prison Plan
Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos is getting some withering criticism from opponents of prison privatization for his decision to remove Senator Mike Fasano as the chairman of a powerful Senate appropriations committee.
- Blog: Unions speak out in defense of Senator Fasano
- Florida Prisons Bill Would Expand Private Management, Netting A Big Win for Political Contributors
Senate panel clears personal injury protection fraud-fighting bill
A Senate panel on Thursday cleared a bill aimed at cutting down the massive fraud plaguing the state’s personal injury protection, or PIP, coverage program.
Florida Highway Patrol begs drivers to ‘Move Over’
Florida Highway Patrol trooper Dave Rodriguez was hit by a car in Orange County last week, and is still in intensive care.
Police Layoffs Ripple Through Key Swing State Of Florida
Last October, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, one of Florida’s largest law enforcement agencies, laid off nearly 50 police officers and eliminated 23 vacant officer positions, in response to an $18 million budget cut by the Jacksonville city council.
Police Agencies Crack Down on Prescription Fraud
Several law enforcement agencies in the Sarasota area are participating in a crackdown of doctor shopping and pill pushers through a state initiative called “Operation Southwest Shopper.”
Drug Enforcement Administration: Florida purchases of Oxycodone decline
While Florida has been viewed as the epicenter of the nation’s pill mill epidemic, recent evidence demonstrates that the efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration and its federal, state, and local law enforcement partners have made a significant difference.
Blog: Ex-Department of Juvenile Justice Chief Peterman faces $5,000 fine, censure
The Florida Commission on Ethics on Friday upheld a $5,000 fine and public censure and reprimand against Frank Peterman for travel abuses while he served as secretary of juvenile justice under former Gov. Charlie Crist.
Umatilla, Florida Police Chief Suspended for Playing Games
The Umatilla, Florida Chief of Police has found himself in hot water this week over playing video games on the only computer in the office – among a litany of other complaints from his subordinates, who painted him as a bit of a tyrant.
Busy start for Wentzville’s new police chief
If Wentzville’s new police chief was hoping to ease into her job, that hope vanished in her first 72 hours.
On the exclusive island of Indian Creek Village in South Florida, ultra-wealthy residents, including celebrities, rely on the Indian Creek Village Public Safety Department for their personal safety and the security of their multi-million dollar homes.
Truck batteries disappearing in five South Florida cities
So far, Police have no idea why the batteries are being stolen. Or who’s doing it.
Counterfeit cash makes way across Ocala
Ocala Police are finding fake cash across the city.
Inmate adds pig image to Vermont police cruiser decals
A prison inmate who makes stationery and license plates pulled a fast one on state Police by adding the image of a pig to the state decal on their cruisers.
REPORTS
This report provides a summary of significant financial trends and findings identified in audit reports prepared by independent certified public accountants and submitted to the Florida Auditor General’s Office , annual financial reports for unaudited entities submitted to the Florida Department of Financial Services, and other information for the 2009-10 fiscal year.
U.S. Department of Justice: The DNA Backlog
A sample of more than 2,000 agencies found that 14% of unsolved homicide cases (an estimated 3,975 cases) and 18% of unsolved rape cases (an estimated 27,595 cases) contained forensic evidence not submitted by law enforcement agencies to a crime laboratory for analysis. Twenty-three percent of all unsolved property crimes (an estimated 5,126,719 cases) contained unanalyzed forensic evidence. The National Institute of Justice has provided funds to assist in testing approximately 1.8 million DNA samples taken from convicted offenders and arrestees since 2005, leading to more than 18,000 hits in the FBI’s database. As of August 2010, more than 8.7 million offender profiles and 332,000 forensic profiles from crime scene samples had been added to the database, resulting in more than 124,800 hits and assisting more than 121,900 investigations.
U.S. Department of Justice: Elder Abuse and Mistreatment
Elder abuse includes intentional actions by a caregiver or other trusted individual that causes harm to an older adult. Elder abuse can also include the failure of a caregiver or other responsible party to provide for the basic needs of an elder. In 2009, 11% of older people responding to a phone survey reported experiencing at least one form of mistreatment-emotional, physical, or sexual. Financial exploitation by a family member was reported by 5.2% of older people in 1 year. Approximately 4.6% of adults over age 60 reported experiencing some form of emotional mistreatment in the past year, and only 8% of these individuals reported the event to the police. It is estimated that for every one case of elder abuse, neglect, exploitation, or self-neglect reported to authorities, about five more go unreported.
U.S. Department of Justice: Bullying
Bullying includes repeated harmful acts and a real or perceived imbalance of power. Bullying creates a climate of fear in schools, on playgrounds, in neighborhoods, in juvenile detention facilities, and in gangs. Some 13.2% of survey participants reported having been physically bullied during the previous year. In the United States, 13% of 6th- through 10th-grade students bully and 6% are both victims and bullies. In a survey of American middle and high school students, 66% of bullying victims believed school professionals responded poorly to bullying problems. Bullying takes place more often at school than on the way to and from school. Male bullying declines after age 15 and female bullying after age 14. Of student victims, 25% were bullied about their race or religion.
U.S. Department of Justice: Mentoring
Mentoring is based on the premise that predictable, consistent relationships with stable, competent adults can help youth cope with challenges and steer clear of high-risk behaviors. Of the 17.6 million young people who could benefit from having a mentor, only 2.5 million were in formal, one-to-one mentoring relationships in 2005. Most mentoring relationships last an average of 9 months, but 38% of mentors spent at least 12 months with their mentees. Only 16% of mentors had mentees in the juvenile justice system, but 67% of mentors expressed a willingness to work with this population. According to a study of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America program, little brothers and little sisters were 46% less likely than their peers without mentors to initiate drug use during the study period.
BILLS FILED
HB 1511 Relating to Unexplained Rise in the Killings of Law Enforcement Officers by State Representative J.W. Grant
HB 1511 would create the Florida Statewide Task Force (“Task Force”) on an Unexplained Rise in Killings of Law Enforcement Officers. The bill provides legislative intent, purpose, membership, meetings and duties of the Task Force, and provides for reimbursement for per diem and travel expenses. It also mandates a report to the Florida Legislature. Effective Date: Upon becoming a law
MEETINGS
February 21
Southwest Florida Criminal Justice Academy Regional 10 Criminal Justice Training School; 9:00 a.m. Southwest Florida Public Service Academy