Florida Sheriffs Association

Appropriations Committee approves bill removing police ‘discretion tool’ in first-time cases with juveniles

Published on March 8, 2017 in Statewide/Top Headlines by Les Neuhaus

A bill introduced and passed unanimously in the Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice Wednesday would take away tool long since considered useful, but increasingly controversial – the power of discretion. The measure – SB 196 — could drastically limit what those in the policing community could do when responding to calls involving minors, detractors at the meeting — which included representatives from the law enforcement associations — argued, as the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Anitere Flores looked on. “We…

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Drug Free America urges caution as lawmakers discuss Amendment 2 implementation

Published on January 23, 2017 in Statewide by Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster

Drug Free America is urging Florida lawmakers to “proceed with caution” as they begin crafting legislation to implement the state’s newest medical marijuana law. “While we were opposed to Amendment 2 for a number of specific reasons, we recognize Florida voters have spoken,” said Calvina Fay, the executive director of Drug Free America, in a statement. “We also recognize lawmakers will soon convene and consider implementing language … that will dictate policy for generations to come. We strongly urge them to exercise extreme caution moving…

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Barbara Watson proposes statewide commission to review police shootings

Published on November 29, 2016 in Statewide/Top Headlines by Mitch Perry

Last year, the city of Tampa joined Orlando, Miami, Key West and St. Petersburg as the only municipalities in Florida with Citizens Review Boards to police actions and policies. According to a South Florida House Democrat, that’s not nearly comprehensive enough to keep a watchful eye on deadly interactions between the police and the public. And that’s why Miami Beach Gardens Representative Barbara Watson filed a bill last week that would create special review commission to reveal fatal use-of-force incidents by law enforcement personnel.…

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Medical marijuana advocates slam ‘scare tactics’ of Florida Sheriffs Association and Drug Free America

Published on October 31, 2016 in Statewide by Mitch Perry

With the possibility Florida may finally pass a state law legalizing medicinal marijuana next week, advocates for the legislation say opponents of Amendment 2 are using “scare tactics” to try to persuade Floridians to reject the proposal. Specifically, they’re taking aim at the claims there is a danger of marijuana edibles ending up in their children’s Halloween candy. “This is a farce. This is totally unfounded, and it is an absolute lie,” said Chris Cano, executive director for the Central Florida office of…

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Florida police chiefs oppose medical marijuana amendment

Published on October 13, 2016 in Statewide by Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster

Florida police chiefs want voters to vote “No on 2.” The Florida Police Chiefs Association called on Florida voters to just say no to the 2016 medical marijuana constitutional amendment. The statewide organization joins several other law enforcement organizations and officials, including the Florida Sheriff’s Association, Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings, and Palm Beach Sheriff Ric Bradshaw, in opposing the constitutional amendment. “The Florida Police Chiefs Association strongly opposes any and all proposals that would legalize or decriminalize the sale, possession…

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Florida Sheriffs Association elects first African-American president

Published on July 13, 2016 in Statewide/Top Headlines by Lloyd Dunkelberger

The Florida Sheriffs Association has elected its first African-American president in the history of the law enforcement association. Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings will lead the organization, which represents the 66 elected sheriffs in the state and the appointed public safety director in Miami-Dade County. Demings, a native of Orlando who has been the Orange County sheriff since 2008, has recently been in the national spotlight with the mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando and the death of…

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Ed Narain proud of his accomplishments in the House, ready to advance in the Senate

Published on March 16, 2016 in The Bay and the 'Burg/Top Headlines by Mitch Perry

Like may people in the Tampa Heights community that he represents, House District 61 Democrat Ed Narain was holding his breath when news broke on Tuesday that Governor Rick Scott had vetoed $256 million in projects from the just concluded legislative session. The good news is that Narain’s request for $1.2 million to move what has become a beloved community center to another part of the area will go through. The facility, the former Faith Temple Missionary Baptist Church on Palm Avenue, appeared to be slated for demolition…

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