Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiNovember 21, 2016

More transparency. More community engagement. More meetings. More body cameras. And higher millage rates. And that August pension reform referendum? Spoiler: that sales tax extension is not going to provide enough money to pay for what’s needed. Such insights abounded in the long-awaited final report from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office‘s strategic initiative task forces. It […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 2, 2016

Addressing a Jacksonville City Council committee Tuesday, Sheriff Mike Williams signaled his department’s commitment to a pilot program for body cameras “sooner than later,” even as major questions remain about hardware costs, capabilities of cameras, and time frame of deployment. Williams expects to have the program begun “no later than the spring,” he told the […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 18, 2016

As promised ahead of Monday, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry‘s second budget was lean and devoid of much in the way of enhancements. A few city departments did come out ahead. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office will get 40 new police officers and 40 new community service officers, which augments the 40 of each provided in the current […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 7, 2016

At the police memorial building in Jacksonville, Sheriff Mike Williams and Mayor Lenny Curry presented a united front Thursday in discussing public safety. Among the topics: the deployment of officers — 24,000 man hours, at approximately a million dollars this fiscal year — for overtime detail, a strategic deployment in neighborhoods facing the gravest challenges. As well, […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 1, 2016

The changing of the guard in Jacksonville City Council happened Thursday afternoon, with Lori Boyer being sworn into the presidency at the Ritz Theater. Boyer pledged an “ambitious agenda,” one undeterred by Jacksonville’s fiscal reality. “I realized months ago that the budget would not accommodate any big initiative,” Boyer said, yet she wanted to develop a […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 27, 2016

Jacksonville is in for a tight budget year, and amidst pressures from community activists such as Diallo Sekou and R.L. Gundy to budget for body cameras for the beleaguered Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, some provisional good news came through in a letter from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement last week. The FDLE received an appropriation of $250,000 […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 3, 2016

One of the more compellingly titled emails from Jacksonville government servers recently: a missive from pastor R.L. Gundy to the mayor and the city council entitled “Citizen Review Board, Independent Investigations, Death Penalty and Referendum.” Gundy, a politically active Baptist preacher, is known for his blistering fusillades against politicians like State Attorney Angela Corey. He also has been […]

Ryan RayMarch 24, 2016

A day after signing nine bills into law on Wednesday, Gov. Rick Scott gave final approval to 33 bills passed during the 2016 Legislative Session late Thursday morning. The raft of newly enacted legislation includes HB 93 by Democratic Rep. Shevrin Jones, which requires Florida law enforcement agencies to “establish policies and procedures regarding the use” of police body cameras. […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 7, 2016

Law enforcement agencies could soon have to follow certain guidelines if their officers wear body cameras. The Florida Senate voted 37-0 to approve a bill (HB 93) that requires police to develop standards that govern how agencies use, maintain and store body cameras and recorded data. “This is a very important bill for our community,” […]

Ryan RayFebruary 5, 2016

A bill to require the use of body cameras for Florida law enforcement officers is ready for a vote before the full House after getting final approval in a committee. The House Judiciary Committee passed HB 93 by Rep. Shevrin Jones by a unanimous vote Thursday. Jones, a Broward Democrat, said his bill would provide comprehensive protections for both citizens […]

Tag: body cameras

Transparency, taxpayer money billed as solutions to Jacksonville police problems

Jax Sheriff: body camera pilot program to roll out ‘sooner than later’

Lenny Curry introduces lean budget, sells pension-tax referendum

Jax mayor, sheriff tout successes of overtime, discuss body cams and police violence

Lori Boyer assumes Jax Council presidency, promises ‘ambitious agenda’

FDLE solicits JSO for grant submission for body cameras

Jax pastor R.L. Gundy: No justice, no pension tax

Rick Scott signs raft of 33 bills into law

Bill to develop guidelines for police body cameras clears Senate

Body cameras bill poised for House vote