How law enforcement agencies are recruiting future officers in a difficult climate
Small towns and big cities alike are struggling to recruit and retain law enforcement officers amid national controversy over the police profession. Many veteran officers are retiring, leaving agencies in a bidding war for qualified candidates — as they try to hire the next generation to protect and serve.
FDLE asked to investigate death of 32-year-old inmate at Alachua County jail
The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office is asking the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to investigate the death of an inmate who was found unresponsive hours after being told he was fit to stand trial, according to the sheriff’s office.
Investigation spanning 2+ years nets arrest of suspected drug dealer in St. Johns County, deputies say
An investigation into illegal narcotics has led to the arrest of a woman accused of trafficking methamphetamine, setting up drug deals and using her home as a drug house, according to a report from the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office.
Blade tip recovered from Tristyn Bailey’s body came from knife found in St. Johns retention pond: FDLE
A blade tip found in 13-year-old Tristyn Bailey’s body originated from a knife that was discovered in a St. Johns County retention pond, according to a Florida Department of Law Enforcement report released Tuesday.
FDLE arrests former Florida police captain on charges of grand theft, exploitation
Agents with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement arrested Kimberly Ann Kilpatrick, a former Port Orange Police Department captain, on charges of grand theft and exploitation of a disabled adult, according to a news release.
First responders getting trained on how to deal with missing children with autism
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has developed training for 911 tele-communicators to help find children with autism who are reported missing, something that can go a long way for families who have children with autism, because every second counts when trying to find a child with autism that’s reported missing.
Deputy shoots suspect at Clay County gas station during hostage standoff: Sheriff’s Office
Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating a deputy-involved shooting that happened Saturday at a Green Cove Springs gas station in Clay County. The incident started with a hostage situation that shut down roads in the area for several hours, investigators said.
Florida to send 50 law enforcement officers to Texas border
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday announced that Florida is sending 50 state law enforcement officers to Texas to help enforce the U.S.-Mexico border, though it remains unclear exactly what their mission will be and who will be paying for the effort.
news.yahoo.comColumbia County children found safe, parents facing charges after Amber Alert issued
After a Florida Amber Alert was issued Wednesday evening for two children last seen in Lake City, authorities announced Thursday that the children had been found safe and their biological parents had been taken into custody.
Crescent City Council votes to permanently disband police department
PUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. – The Crescent City Council voted 4-1 on Wednesday night to permanently disband the police department. Back in December, the entire department was placed on administrative leave amid an investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement into training records and irregularities. The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office took over jurisdiction. AdIn the report, the FDLE recommends one of the officers be fired because he didn’t complete mandatory training. The audit also revealed that training documents were never found for another officer, meaning that officer needs to be retrained.
Human remains found in search for Putnam County mom, investigators say
CRESCENT CITY, Fla. – An intensified search for a missing 20-year-old Putnam County mother turned up human remains Saturday in a heavily wooded area outside Crescent City, investigators said. The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office has called in the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s mobile crime lab to help identify the remains, which were found about 8 a.m. Saturday. [Watch the full news conference update below:]Two days after Nelson’s family reported her missing to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, the agency first asked the public for help Friday. AdRELATED: Putnam County ramps up search for possibly endangered 20-year-old womanCommunity members gathered off County Road 308 in Crescent City on Saturday to continue the search for Nelson. “If anybody’s seen my baby, can you call please contact the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office or me,” Nelson’s mother, Chasity Nelson, said at a Friday afternoon news conference.
Florida lawmakers boost money for concealed weapons background checks
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Lawmakers shifted $4.34 million on Thursday to cover a projected deficit caused by an uptick in people applying for concealed-weapons licenses. Without comment, the Joint Legislative Budget Commission, made up of House and Senate members, approved the funding request from the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Division of Licensing, which oversees permitting for concealed weapons. “This translates to an annual projected total of over 400,000 background checks to be processed through June 30, substantially above any prior fiscal year.”AdThe fiscal year began July 1 and will end June 30. The division had been authorized to spend up to $9.9 million for criminal history background checks for concealed-weapons license applicants, Poucher noted. In the two years that Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried has been in office, the number of concealed-weapons licenses issued by the state has grown from 1.95 million to 2.26 million.
Missing Putnam County girl found safe
SATSUMA, Fla. – The Florida Department of Law Enforcement and deputies with the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office were searching Wednesday for a missing 11-year-old girl. At about midnight, investigators told News4Jax she was found. According to Col. Joseph Wells, she was located several miles from her house walking along a road. Because she is no longer missing, News4Jax has removed her name and photo from this article. Related social media posts have also been updated.
FDLE releases findings of investigation into Crescent City Police Department
CRESCENT CITY, Fla. – The Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s investigation into the Crescent City Police Department is complete, and News4Jax has obtained a copy of the audit. Back in December, the entire department was placed on administrative leave, and the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office took over. He read the FDLE report and said the results are shocking. I’m surprised they didn’t come down on them any sooner than they did.”Jefferson says this creates credibility problems for the entire department. However, that may not matter if the City Council decides to abolish the department and allow the Sheriff’s Office to take over permanently.
Former Florida health data manager sues Florida Department of Law Enforcement after officers raided her home
Former Florida health data manager sues Florida Department of Law Enforcement after officers raided her home Rebekah Jones was one of the people who helped create Florida's coronavirus dashboard. She was fired from her position in May after she says she refused to manipulate COVID-19 data. On December 7, her home was raided by officers from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) after a cyberbreach that sent messages to current health department employees. Jones joins CBSN's Lana Zak to discuss the lawsuit she has filed against the FDLE and why she says they violated her constitutional rights.
cbsnews.comFired COVID scientist Rebekah Jones sues Florida over "sham" search warrant
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement served the search warrant earlier this month. "They were there to serve a search warrant for a computer. https://twitter.com/GeoRebekahThe message that led to the search warrant implored employees still at the Health Department "to speak up before another 17,000 people are dead. Jones has had several run-ins with law enforcement over personal issues, but has gained international attention by disputing Florida's COVID-19 statistics. The commissioner of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Rick Swearingen, said he was "proud of the professional" shown by his agents as they executed a legal search warrant at the home.
cbsnews.comFired COVID scientist Rebekah Jones sues Florida over "sham" search warrant
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement served the search warrant earlier this month. "They were there to serve a search warrant for a computer. https://twitter.com/GeoRebekahThe message that led to the search warrant implored employees still at the Health Department "to speak up before another 17,000 people are dead. Jones has had several run-ins with law enforcement over personal issues, but has gained international attention by disputing Florida's COVID-19 statistics. The commissioner of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Rick Swearingen, said he was "proud of the professional" shown by his agents as they executed a legal search warrant at the home.
cbsnews.comBodycam footage shows Florida agents' raid on fired COVID scientist's home
Bodycam video released by a Florida law enforcement agency on Thursday shows that officers tried multiple times to contact a former Department of Health employee who the state says sent an unauthorized message about COVID-19 data. The more than 20 minutes of video released by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement shows officers knocking on Rebekah Jones' door multiple times and attempting to call her before serving a search warrant Monday morning. Jones set up a video camera before letting officers in, and exclaimed that they were pointing guns at her children. But bodycam video shows her husband and children leaving the house peacefully without guns drawn. She told officers that her lawyer told her not to answer the door.
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