Florida Police Chiefs Association Update: Week Ending May 17, 2013
May 21, 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 May 17, 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 Department of Law Enforcement Unveils 2012 Annual Uniform Crime Report
Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Gerald Bailey joined Police Chiefs and Sheriffs following the Southwest Florida Police Chiefs Association meeting in Ft. Myers to announce the 2012 Annual Uniform Crime Report. The report shows Florida’s crime rate dropped 6.5 percent compared with 2011.
- Florida’s crime rate dropped 6.5 percent in 2012
- Florida Crime Rate Tumbles to 42-Year Low
- Florida Crime Rate Down, Yet Murder Up
- Miami-Dade Crime Down 5.2 Percent In 2012
- Escambia’s Crime Up, Highest Overall Rate In Florida
- Florida crime down, but news not all good in Lee, Collier counties
- Manatee County crime plunges 15.7 percent
Tipping off law enforcement to possible terrorist activity is purpose of 13-county program
Sheriffs in 13 Northeast Florida counties announced an online system Thursday for residents to report suspicious activity they think may be terrorism-related.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement mobile forensics lab used to identify child porn suspects
In the past, investigations would take months because computers had to be sent away to be analyzed, but FDLE has a mobile forensics lab plus indoor labs that help them turn cases around in about two weeks, officials said.
Spate of shootings by law enforcers concerns community, Florida Department of Law Enforcement
In the past month, seven people have been shot by law-enforcement officers in Central Florida – some fatally.
Florida Police Report Problems with Glock Service Pistols
The Palm Beach sheriff’s office in Florida has reported a series of malfunctions with their Glock service pistols. The official report cites a “Firing Pin Issue” that was causing misfires.
South Florida Insurance Fraud: Feds Charge 92 Over $20 Million in Claims
Investigators announced charges Thursday against 33 people they said were involved in staging accidents for insurance fraud — the latest hit in a three-year investigation that identified about $20 million in fraudulently obtained payouts from insurers.
Exonerated Inmates Protest Florida Death Row Law
Two former death row inmates, Seth Penalver and Herman Lindsey, are protesting the progress of the “Timely Justice Act,” a bill that, if passed, would limit the appeals course for those convicted of capital crimes and expedite the process of state executions in Florida.
Internet cafe law may have unintended targets
House Bill 155 was designed to sweep the state of illegal gambling cafes, and it worked. Internet cafes from Jacksonville to Key West have closed.
Tampa prepares car stereo ordinance
Window-rattling, mind-frazzling car stereos are a top source of complaints to the Tampa Police Department.
Sebring Police Department celebrates 100 years
When Rooter Rush visited the Sebring Police Department decades ago as a teenager it wasn’t his choice back then. He recalled Wednesday he got in trouble for mischief involving sprinklers and minor alcohol law violations.
Romine Starts as New Manatee Technical Institute Law Enforcement Academy Director
Jay Romine took over this week as the new director of Manatee Technical Institute’s Law Enforcement Academy. The recommendation to appoint him to the position was approved at Monday’s Manatee School Board meeting. The recently-retired Chief of Police for the City of Holmes Beach brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the position.
Law enforcement teams hone skills
The first competitor in a line of Kevlar-clad men and women stepped forward and pulled the trigger, aiming at a photo of a man holding a gun to a child’s head. After the target was hit, he ran on to the next station ready to take aim again.
Brevard contingent heads home after emotional National Police Week in D.C.
With a little bit of exhaustion and feet tired from exploring the nation’s capital, the group of Brevard County Sheriff’s staff that attended National Police Week here is headed for home.
Bradenton memorial honors law officers who have given their lives
Members of the Manatee County law enforcement community gathered Thursday morning to honor their brothers and sisters who “paid the ultimate sacrifice.”
Wildlife poaching draws attention of criminologists
With no shortage of human-on-human misdeeds, criminologists haven’t typically concerned themselves with crimes against wildlife and the environment. But with poaching raging out of control in several areas of the world
, that may be changing.
REPORTS
In 2011-12, an estimated 4.0% of state and federal prison inmates and 3.2% of jail inmates reported experiencing one or more incidents of sexual victimization by another inmate or facility staff in the past 12 months or since admission to the facility, if less than 12 months. Patterns of inmate-on-inmate sexual victimization in 2011-12 were consistent with patterns in past surveys. Rates reported by prison and jail inmates were higher among females than males, higher among whites than blacks, and higher among inmates with a college degree than those who had not completed high school. Eleven male prisons, one female prison, and nine jails were identified as high-rate facilities based on the prevalence of inmate-on-inmate sexual victimization in 2011-12. Among male prisons surveyed, two Florida prisons reported the highest percentageof inmate-on-inmate sexual victimization and the highest reported rates of staff sexual misconduct.
Vera Institute of Justice: Youth, Safety, and Violence — Schools, Communities and Mental Health
This policy brief offers insight regarding ways to counter violence against youth in the domains of school safety, mental illness, and the delivery of mental health services. The first section focuses on school safety. The authors recommend school districts develop a resource guide for local officials to use as they determine whether to introduce or increase the presence of police in schools. In addition, the results of a study of 19 school resource officer (SRO) programs across the nation are presented. One of the lessons is that SROs should constitute only one component of a comprehensive school safety program. The second section of the brief focuses on mental illness, stigma, and violence. It cautions against focusing only on mental illness, because mental illness per se does not result in violent behavior. The third and final section presents the providers’ perspective on mental health and youth violence. Among other recommendations, it advises that before encouraging providers to report a patient’s risk for violence more frequently than current standards require, the definition of “credible threat of violence” must be clarified.
This National Institute of Justice website presents the results of a multi-year evaluation of the Serious and Violent Offender Reentry Initiative (SVORI). The evaluation found that SVORI increased access to reentry services and programs for offenders with participants more likely to have reentry plans upon release; however, provision of reentry services decreased significantly after offenders were released from incarceration. In addition, compared to non-SVORI participants, program participants did not have improved outcomes with respect to housing, education, employment, and recidivism rates. The page also includes information on the challenges faced by returning offenders and funding for on-going follow-up research on which SVORI programs and services improved reentry outcomes.
Urban Institute: Addressing Violence and Disorder Around Alcohol Outlets
This report summarizes research results on the effectiveness of interventions targeting factors that contribute to violence and disorder around alcohol outlets. Since research has shown a relationship between the density of alcohol establishments and increased levels of violence and disorder, effective use of licensing authority can give local governments better control over activities of drinking establishments, thereby reducing violence and disorder levels. In addition, changing closing times has been found to have significant impacts on violence in bar districts
MEETINGS
June 16-19
The Florida Police Chiefs Association is holding its 61st Annual Summer Training Conference and Exposition, June 16 – 19, at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point in Bonita Springs. For more information, click here.
August 19-23
The Florida Police Chiefs Association, in cooperation with the Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute, has scheduled an Advanced Future Law Enforcement Executives Seminar from August 19 – 23, 2013, at the Embassy Suites Lake Buena Vista in Orlando, Florida. This training is structured as a sequel course for graduates of the FPCA/FCJEI’s Future LE Executives Seminar or for those who have been in a command position for three or more years. For more information, click here.
September 16-20
The Florida Police Chiefs Association, in cooperation with the Florida Criminal Justice Institute, has scheduled a Future Law Enforcement Executives Seminar from September 16 – 20, 2013, at the Embassy Suites Lake Buena Vista, 8100 Lake Street in Orlando, Florida. For more information, click here.