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Jerry Demings

Rick Scott signs bill to fight terrorism

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Gov. Rick Scott signed a bill Thursday that creates new criminal offenses to combat terrorism and funds more agents to investigate terrorist acts. The Governor was in Orlando to attend the Orlando Counter Terrorism Conference, where 210 agents from the law enforcement agencies from across the southeast are sharing ideas to stop terrorism. “This bill helps our local, state and federal law enforcement community work together to keep people safe,” Scott said. “We’ve all got to open our eyes and…

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John Mica congressional hearing on Orlando’s lost federal anti-terrorism money aims some blame at Congress

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Whose fault was it that Orlando did not qualify for federal funding to shore up anti-terrorism efforts the past few years? U.S. Rep. John Mica called a congressional hearing Friday to see, and several officials concluded it is at least partly because of Congress. Mica was not entirely convinced and countered with several reasons why he is convinced the federal Urban Area Security Initiative Grant Program under the Department of Homeland Security should have done more to provide funding to Orlando for…

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Florida Sheriffs Association elects first African-American president

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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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Sheriff: Charges unlikely after 2-year-old killed by gator

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A sheriff said charges are unlikely against a Nebraska couple after an alligator killed their 2-year-old son by snatching him out of shallow water at a Walt Disney World beach, but the entertainment giant is reviewing whether to add gator warning signs. Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings told The Associated Press after a news conference Wednesday there was no indication Will and Melissa Graves of suburban Omaha, Nebraska, committed any crime that contributed to the reptile grabbing their son, Lane…

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Sheriff: Body of boy killed by gator recovered

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The Latest on search for boy dragged away by alligator (all times local): 4:30 p.m. Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings says searchers have recovered the body of a 2-year-old Nebraska boy snatched by an alligator at Walt Disney World. The boy was attacked Tuesday night as he waded in shallow water at the edge of the Seven Seas Lagoon at Disney’s Grand Floridian resort. Demings identified the boy as Lane Graves of Elkhorn, Nebraska. The search team grew to 50…

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