Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersJune 2, 2017

A coalition of labor, faith and immigrant rights groups will be rallying in Orlando Saturday to push for an ordinance that would codify what city police already is doing – denying federal requests to hold immigrants in police custody beyond what normally is allowed. The coalition has been working with Orlando City Commissioner Tony Ortiz […]

Scott PowersApril 5, 2017

Florida’s sheriffs are mad at federal authorities for calling them out for not taking what the sheriffs believe are illegal actions. The Florida Sheriff’s Association is charging that the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is asking them to illegally detain prisoners. And when the sheriffs refuse, they risk being being spotlighted for failing to detain criminal aliens, […]

Les NeuhausMarch 8, 2017

A bill introduced and passed unanimously in the Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice Wednesday would take away a 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 […]

Mitch PerryMarch 8, 2017

Legislation to create a statewide civil citation program for juveniles statewide advanced in a Florida Senate Committee Wednesday. But members of the police and sheriffs association continue to resist the bill as currently drawn. Miami Republican Senator Anitere Flores’ bill (SB 196) would mandate law enforcement officers to offer a civil citation for youths admitting to one of 11 […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 31, 2017

It was High Noon in Jacksonville on Tuesday when Gov. Rick Scott got on the microphone at the winter meeting of the Florida Sheriffs at the Hyatt Hotel. Gov. Scott had a message to deliver, just hours after unveiling a budget with public safety enhancements. Scott’s new budget earmarks $5.1 billion for public safety, including a […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJanuary 23, 2017

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 […]

Mitch PerryNovember 29, 2016

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 […]

Mitch PerryOctober 31, 2016

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 […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterOctober 13, 2016

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 […]

Associated PressAugust 30, 2016

A former sheriff, a state representative and the son of a former Jacksonville mayor are the top candidates to replace Republican Congressman Ander Crenshaw, a longtime Florida political fixture retiring after eight terms. Former Jacksonville Sheriff John Rutherford, state Rep. Lake Ray, and Hans Tanzler III, a corporate tax lawyer and former federal prosecutor who […]

Tag: Florida Sheriffs Association
Elizabeth Martinez Strauss. Image via campaign.

Coalition seeking Orlando ‘trust’ ordinance for immigrants in custody

Florida sheriffs accuse federal authorities of demanding illegal detentions

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

Bill to expand juvenile civil citations advances in Senate, law enforcement continues to resist

Rick Scott talks public safety budget with Florida Sheriffs

Drug Free America urges caution as lawmakers discuss Amendment 2 implementation

Florida House Democrat Barbara Watson proposes statewide commission to review police shootings

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

Florida police chiefs oppose medical marijuana amendment

John Rutherford, Lake Ray and Hans Tanzler vie for House seat