Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Ana CeballosFebruary 22, 2018

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement requested $1 million in emergency funding from the U.S. Justice Department this week to reimburse law enforcement agencies that responded to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School mass shooting. Local agencies are facing “significant costs” after responding to the shooting that left 18 people dead, including 15 students. The […]

Guest AuthorJanuary 23, 2018

I’m writing to voice my opposition to a measure now before the Constitutional Revision Commission: To amend the state constitution to establish the right of all abused, neglected and abandoned children to their own attorneys in dependency court. After more than 40 years in law enforcement — including 26 as the statewide coordinator of FDLE’s […]

Jim RosicaDecember 20, 2017

Update: Jack Latvala resigned from the Senate Wednesday afternoon. In a resignation letter to Senate President Joe Negron, Latvala wrote: “I have never intentionally dishonored my family, my constituents or the Florida Senate. “My political adversaries have latched onto this effort to rid our country of sexual harassment to try to rid the Florida Senate of […]

Jim RosicaAugust 15, 2017

Protecting Gov. Rick Scott, First Lady Ann Scott, their family, and the Governor’s Mansion and grounds cost the state nearly $3 million last fiscal year, up from $2.6 million the year before. The annual Report of Transportation and Protective Services, issued Tuesday by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, showed the cost to safeguard the […]

Jim RosicaMarch 14, 2017

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Sterling Ivey, a veteran of state government communications, now has joined the Florida Department of Law Enforcement as a communications coordinator. FDLE communications director Gretl Plessinger announced the move Tuesday. He’ll “serve as an FDLE spokesperson and will be responsible for coordinating news releases, interviews, news conferences and internal communications,” she said. Ivey, most recently […]

Florence SnyderMarch 10, 2017

While Bald Badasses Rick Scott and Rick (“We know the terrorists are here!”) Swearingen are busy playing dress-up like Jack Bauer and Jason Bourne, Florida’s criminal justice basics are increasingly under the command of the Keystone Kops. The governor and FDLE commissioner are looking to raid state trust funds to “fight terrorism” by adding 46 […]

Scott PowersMarch 10, 2017

The office of State Attorney Jack Campbell in Tallahassee confirmed reports that he has advised Leon County or the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to look into whether Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, a newly announced Democratic candidate for governor, illegally used city software to send out campaign email. “I can confirm there have been allegations; […]

Les NeuhausMarch 9, 2017

A consultant with more than two decades’ experience working with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) was arrested and charged with grand theft and organized scheme to defraud the state government, a spokesperson confirmed Thursday. John Leland Goelz, a non-sworn technical consultant to the FDLE for 23 years, oversaw the cellphones used by agents […]

Scott PowersJanuary 4, 2017

Vowing to do everything he can to prevent another terrorist attack like the June 12 Pulse nightclub massacre, Gov. Rick Scott pushed for nearly $6 million to create a new counter-terrorism and law enforcement intelligence task force in Florida. “Terror, like we saw in the attack on the Pulse nightclub, is a threat to our state, […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 20, 2016

Despite dwindling revenue for the state budget in the years ahead, Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Rick Swearingen stuck to his budget request for 2017-18. On Tuesday, Swearingen presented his request to Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet: Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam. It was […]

Tag: FDLE
Crowds gather to see Atlantis at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. (Gabrielle Russon)

FDLE asks for $1 million in federal funding to assist Parkland law enforcement

Terry Thomas: Having children direct their own attorneys could put them in harm’s way

Attorney: Jack Latvala was blindsided by bribery allegation

Cost to protect Rick Scott, family now up to nearly $3 million

Personnel note: Sterling Ivey joins FDLE comm’s team

Florence Snyder: Rick Swearingen plays J. Edgar Hoover while Broward burns

State attorney: Law enforcement to look into Andrew Gillum’s email

FDLE consultant arrested in fraud scheme

Rick Scott wants to hire counterterrorism agents

FDLE head on budget: ‘I asked for what we need’