Waldo, Florida — Many have heard the shocking stories about a little Florida town named Waldo — also known as America’s Worst Speed Trap.
Over the years, multiple complaints have been filed against the Waldo Police Department in regards to the tactics used by their police force. And with every complaint, city officials turned their heads.
Yesterday, five Waldo Police Officers came forward and told city council that they had been under strict orders to meet a quota for traffic tickets under the command of Waldo Police Chief Mike Szabo and City Manager Kim Worley.
Writing tickets to meet a quota is against the law in Florida.
Officer Brandon Roberts
Officer Brandon Roberts told council members that officers were required to write 12 tickets per 12-hour shift, and if they did not, they would face disciplinary action. Roberts also provided e-mails as evidence.
Roberts also said that Chief Szabo kept a cooler in his office filled with drugs that had been seized instead of keeping them properly locked away in evidence. “Anyone could have access to the cooler, even the cleaning crew,” Roberts said.
The speed trap set up in Waldo has also been deemed illegal.
Officer Roberts said that officers wrote many tickets, but did so with heavy hearts.
Corruption in Waldo is nothing new. In 2003, former Waldo Police Officer Chris Kirkland wrote a book entitled “Americas Worst Speeding Trap: A Former Officer’s View.” The book was based on his firsthand experiences as a police officer in Waldo.
In the book , Officer Kirkland described how officers were required to meet quotas, set up speed traps, and use coercion to generate money for the town.
Former Police Chief A.W. Smith was in charge at the time. Smith called the book “a work of extreme imagination.”
The American Automobile Association (AAA) has been very open with its criticism toward Waldo city officials and its police department.
According to AAA, Waldo city officials have ignored corruption in their town for nearly two decades.
Former Officer Kirkland, along with AAA, agree that the motivation for corruption in Waldo has always been money.
Waldo police have also been accused of illegally coercing people into police searches of their vehicles, often times pulling motorist from their vehicles and cuffing them while their vehicles were searched.
Many motorist have complained that Waldo police used the “I smell marijuana” tactic to search their vehicle.
Ocklawaha, Florida resident Carla Haskell, e-mailed Ocala Post with the following:
In September of 2013, I was working in Charlotte, NC with my sister and best friend. We would come home on most weekends and then head back to Charlotte for the work week. We were headed back mid morning on a Sunday and drove through Waldo. While passing through, I pulled into the Kangaroo to grab drinks and when we went to exit the vehicle there was a Waldo cop behind me exiting his vehicle with his hand on his gun.
He walked over to my vehicle while yelling at us to stay inside. He then proceeded to reach his hand into my truck and open all my windows using the electric window panel on the door. He then demanded ID from everyone in the vehicle. I thought it was a normal traffic stop.
The officer said I was speeding, but I wasn’t going anywhere near as fast as he claimed I was. A second cop showed up and we were asked to exit the vehicle. The first cop asked if he could search my vehicle and I said, “No, I do not consent to any searches.” The officer replied, “Yeah, well I just wanted to see what you would say because I am going to search it anyway… I smell marijuana.”
He didn’t smell anything as no one smokes or had smoked marijuana; he just needed something for probable cause.
We were asked to stand in the rear of my vehicle while he ripped my truck apart. We were asked where we were going, what we did for work, why we commuted to another state, and how much money we made. The second cop even asked where I purchased my sandals from.
The first cop claimed to find a “green leafy substance” on my floor board and then in my purse, at which point I stated he had absolutely found nothing that could have been illegal in my possession. He stated the odor was coming from the rear of the vehicle, yet his focus was on the front of the vehicle, our purses, and glove compartment. He opened the rear where we had luggage, bags etc. He then unzipped one compartment on a duffle bag and shut the hatch.
He walked back around and said if you have illegal drugs you need to tell me now before I find them and take “your ass” to jail. I still stated I had ZERO illegal substances in my possession or in my vehicle and he wasn’t going to find anything. He continued the search on the floor boards for an additional 15 minutes. Then he came around the vehicle and told me I had one more chance to confess. Told him I have nothing to confess to, I did nothing wrong. He said he found a substance, but wasn’t going to test it because he didn’t want to take me to jail. I immediately consented to him testing it. In fact, I told him to test it, at which point he said, “I just told you I am not testing it.” He proceeded to write me a $300 speeding ticket and told me to get my truck cleaned. Left the contents of our purses and my truck compartments all over the seats and the floor.
My sister went into the store and bought the drinks we had stopped for, at which time the store clerk said, “Let me guess, he smelled marijuana. He does that all the time as probable cause to do his illegal searches.”
We were humiliated in a store parking lot… made to look like criminals in public. And delayed our eight our trip by an hour and a half.
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The American Automobile Association said, “Small towns always think corruption will be overlooked, but they eventually get caught.”
AAA said that more than half of Waldo’s $1 million budget comes from revenue produced by traffic tickets.
Chief Szabo did not attend the meeting. He has been suspended with pay.
The investigation is now in the hands of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
The Florida Gators football practices were suspended after a team member reported finding an unknown white powdery substance on the field.
Local police, federal investigators, and HAZMAT responded to the scene.
After an analysis of the white powder, HAZMAT officials determined that the white substance unknown to the players was actually the goal line; also known as the end-zone.
Practices resumed after it was determined by officials that the team was unlikely to encounter the white substance again this season.
Go Gators!
The aforementioned article does not reflect the opinion of Ocala Post toward the Florida Gators and is merely for comedic purposes.
The Carolina Panthers had one of their best seasons in half a decade finishing with a record of 12-4 and making it to the divisional round of the playoffs. This is a team that takes pride in having one of the best defenses in the league and also Cam Newton. Those two things are exactly what helped propel the Panthers into one of the league’s best team in 2013.
The Panthers only ranked 29th in the league for passing yards per game yet Newton still threw for 24 touchdowns and 3379 yards. Newton had great targets in Greg Olsen and Steve Smith which only made passing the ball easier on him. The Panthers released Smith at the end of the year, ending his 13 year career with the team. Carolina did not let the loss of Smith affect them as they drafted receiver Kelvin Benjamin with the 28th overall pick.
The Panthers were a force in the running game as they ranked 11th in the league. Having a good running back in DeAngelo Williams and a duel threat quarterback in Newton helped this rushing attack excel last season. The Panthers are one of many teams in the NFL using the read option to open holes and fool opposing defenses.
This defense all around was one of the best in the league last season ranking 6th in passing yards allowed per game and 2nd in rushing yards allowed per game. Linebacker Luke Kuechly followed up his rookie of the year campaign with another amazing year for the Panthers in 2013. Kuechly is no doubt the leader of this front seven and the entire defense. The Panthers added another weapon to their defense by signing strong safety Roman Harper. This defense is young and is already one of the league’s best, so the sky is the limit for this team.
Expect the Panthers to finish the 2014 season with a 12-4 record.
The New Orleans Saints finished the 2013 year with an impressive 11-5, making it to the NFC Divisional Round eventually losing to the Seattle Seahawks. It was yet again another impressive year for the Saints behind the reigns of quarterback Drew Brees.
The Saints’ passing game was on point yet another year as they ranked 2nd in the league in passing yards per game. It is pretty easy to have a great passing game when you have a quarterback like Brees and a great tight end like Jimmy Graham. Brees threw for 5,162 yards and 39 touchdowns while Graham racked 1,215 receiving yards and caught 16 touchdowns. Drafting receiver Brandin Cooks 20th overall will only add to an impressive receiving core that already has Marques Colston.
The Saints were not as good running the ball as they were passing, as they ranked 25th in the league in rushing yards per game. Ever since Reggie Bush left, the Saints have been a pass heavy team which is the biggest reason the Saints always rank in the bottom half of the league in rushing. Pierre Thomas has been a perfect fit for this offense, as he can run or catch the ball when needed. Fellow running back Mark Ingram helps by adding a ground and pound aspect to this team.
The Saints’ secondary was one of the league’s best in 2013, ranking 2nd in passing yards allowed per game. The Saints should have no problem repeating this feat in 2014, as the only key player they lost was strong safety Roman Harper. Even with the loss of Harper, the Saints still improved their secondary in the offseason signing Champ Bailey and one of the best safeties in the league, Jairus Byrd.
The only thing the Saints need to work on in 2014 is improving a front seven that ranked 19th in rushing yards allowed per game. Curtis Lofton is entering his 3rd year in a Saints uniform and there is no question that he is the leader of this front seven. Combining Lofton and the coaching styles of defensive coordinator Rob Ryan should only allow this front seven to improve.
Expect the Saints to finish out the year with a 12-4 record.
Fort McCoy, Florida — Marion County residents are warned of a serial burglar targeting the homes of snow birds.
Today, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office reported nearly a dozen homes (that they know of) have been burglarized.
Flat-screen TVs, appliances, guns, and other miscellaneous items have been stolen.
One of the homes was located in the 14800 block of 148th CT, Fort McCoy.
All of the homes belong to snow birds and many victims were not able to be reached by phone.
If you have family out of town and they live in the aforementioned area, you may want to conduct a home check.
If you have any information concerning this case, you are encouraged to call (352) 369-6845. You can phone anonymous tips to Crime Stoppers of Marion County at 368-STOP or 368-7867. Text tips to 274637 using keyword 368STOP. Tips can also be submitted at www.ocalacrimestoppers.com.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers finished the 2013 season with a 4-12 record. The Buccaneers were awarded the number seven overall pick in the draft which they used on receiver Mike Evans. The Buccaneers were plagued in 2013 by horrible offensive play.
Tampa Bay ranked last in the league in passing yards per game despite quarterback Mike Glennon having a standout rookie campaign. Although Glennon had a good year the Buccaneers are still unsure whether he can lead the offense, as they signed quarterback Josh McCown out of Chicago in the offseason. Tampa Bay enters this year with a receiving core that should be one of the best in the league, as Vincent Jackson enters his third year with the team.
Passing was not the only thing Tampa Bay struggled in last season, they also ranked 22nd in rushing yards per game. A poor rushing attack was mainly due to the season ending injury to Doug Martin in week 2. If Doug Martin can remain healthy, the Buccaneers should be able to go back to their old rushing ways of the 2012 season.
A Tampa Bay secondary that ranked 17th in the league was largely in part due to Dashon Goldson and Darrel Revis. Unfortunately for Revis’s time in Tampa was short lived, as he was released by the team during the offseason due to salary cap issues. The Buccaneers wasted no time in filling in the void left by Revis, as they signed cornerback Alterraun Verner in the offseason. Verner obviously not as good as Revis, but he should have no problem excelling with this defense.
A strong front seven was the definite highlight of the 2013 Buccaneers. Tampa ranked 15th in rushing yards allowed per game. Lavonte Davis and Mason Foster will continue to lead a Tampa front seven that can only improve from here. Combining this front seven with the secondary and Tampa Bay creates a tough defense for any team to attack.
Expect the Buccaneers to finish their 2014 campaign with a 6-10 record.
Tallahassee, Florida — The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles applauded Governor Rick Scott and the Florida Legislature for reducing annual motor vehicle registration fees that allow Floridians
to keep more of their money in their own pockets.
Under legislation signed into law by Governor Scott, vehicle owners in Florida will save millions annually on their registration fees which are set to decrease
beginning September 1, 2014.
“I was honored to stand with Governor Scott as he signed this important legislation that benefits every Floridian that drives a car. This reduction will benefit all of our families and businesses,” said DHSMV Executive Director Julie Jones.
“We look forward to continuing to provide a high level of service, but at a lower cost to our customers.”
The Department urges motorists to renew their registrations for one year instead of opting for a two-year renewal prior to September 1 in order to take advantage of the lower fees next year.
Orlando, Florida — At 10:07 a.m., Orlando Police responded to Wet ‘n Wild in reference to an industrial accident.
A Wet ‘n Wild worker was cleaning one of the pools and became trapped underwater. Another worker called for help while he pulled the trapped employee out of the water.
The Orlando Fire Department responded and provided medical treatment before transporting the injured man to Dr. Phillips Hospital.
The victim is listed in critical, but stable condition.
The incident was turned over to OSHA for further investigation.
Information will be made available as it comes in.
It was a disappointing year for an Atlanta Falcons team that entered the 2013 season with high hopes, after finishing just one drive short of a super bowl appearance the previous year. Atlanta finished the 2013 campaign with a 4-12 record, awarding them with the number 6 overall pick in the draft. The Falcons used that pick to beef up their offensive line, as they selected Jake Matthews. The 4-12 record for the Falcons was mainly due to injuries on the offensive side of the ball and horrible play on the defensive side of the ball.
Quarterback Matt Ryan had yet another stellar year for Atlanta despite injuries to starting receivers Julio Jones and Roddy White. Even with the injuries, Ryan still led this Falcons team to the 7th best passing game in the league averaging 265.2 passing yards per game. The Falcons now begin life without future hall of famer Tony Gonzalez. It is going to be hard to fill in the void left by Gonzalez, but with receivers Jones and White it will put a lot of pressure off the tight end position.
Atlanta was by far the worst rushing team in the league last season averaging only 77.9 rushing yards per game, ranking last in the league. Atlanta fans expected a high powered rushing attack last season, as they signed running back Steven Jackson during the 2013 offseason. Jackson battled injuries all season but was still able to play in 12 games. With an improved offensive line and a healthy Jackson, Atlanta should have no problem improving their rushing attack.
The Falcons also struggled stopping the run in 2013 as they ranking 31st in the league. The Falcons should not improve significantly in 2014 stopping the run. They will improve overtime as they are a young defense. This Falcons team also struggled in their secondary as they ranked 21st in passing yards allowed per game. In recent years the Falcons were always about scoring more than their opponents, and this should remain the same this year.
Expect the Falcons to finish the year out with a 9-7 record.
Ocklawaha, Florida — John Radabaugh Jr., 48, has been missing since February 25, 2014. An intense and extensive search was performed for nearly a week before being called off.
John Radabaugh Jr. went missing while he and his father were raking leaves at their residence. According to detectives, the father allegedly went inside the residence to answer the phone and when he returned, Radabaugh Jr. was gone.
On February 27, 2014, the family said they feared that someone could use Radabaugh’s childlike mannerisms against him.
Radabaugh’s stepmother, Kim Fairless Boyer Agents, said, “If anybody offered him candy or a toy he would go in their home, that’s a big fear of mine.” Adding, “Somebody who is not for the right thing may have him. So if you have him please let him go.”
With a large portion of the community involved, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office organized a search for Radabaugh Jr. that took place for five days. Volunteers turned up by the dozens, and right along the side of law enforcement, they left no stone unturned.
On Saturday, March 1, 2014, more than 150 people were involved in the search — including law enforcement, fire officials, and volunteers. The search was called off on March 2, 2014.
As of today, August 25, 2014, John Radabaugh Jr. is still missing.
Major Tommy Bibb with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office told Ocala Post, earlier today, that they have exhausted all of their resources and do not have any further leads.
After the search was called off, Fairless Boyer Agents wrote, “I am 110% happy with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and all their staff who were involved in this search.”
She is now asking the community to stay involved and search in every shed, tree house, or outdoor building in the area of 19455 SE 91st Place in Ocklawaha, where Radabaugh Jr. went missing.
Approximately nine (9) hours ago, the stepmom posted the following on her Facebook page:
Click to enlarge
If you have any information about the whereabouts of John Radabaugh Jr., you are asked to call 911 immediately.
Citrus County — Deputy K-9 Zeus is back to work after being injured in the line of duty on August 21, 2014.
Deputies Cruz and Norton of the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office, were dispatched to a domestic violence call on the aforementioned date.
Upon arrival, the victim told the deputies she and her boyfriend, Billy James Burnham, 53, had invited a group of friends over for drinks. After a couple hours of drinking, the victim said Burnham became angry and accused her of trying to have sex with one of their friends.
Burnham was still inside the residence while the deputies were interviewing the victim.
According to reports, Burnham had an altercation with one of their friends, who had left the area before deputies arrived.
After the friend left, the victim said Burnham retrieved a hammer and hit her on the back of the left leg.
According to reports, Burnham hit the victim hard enough to leave an impression of the head of the hammer on the back of the victim’s leg.
Burnham also used the same hammer in an attempt to smash the victim’s ankles.
Prior to deputies entering the home, the victim stated that Burnham also had a loaded gun inside the residence.
Deputies knocked on the door several times and verbally announced “Sheriff’s Office,” but Burnham would not respond, so the victim provided deputies with a key.
Upon opening the door, Burnham charged the deputies — striking Deputy Cruz in the head with an unknown object. Burnham then slammed the door shut.
K-9 Deputy Hryc was then dispatched to the scene. Also present were Sergeant Shephard and Deputy Stokes
Several attempts were made to try to get Burnham to surrender peacefully; however, those attempts failed.
Sergeant Shephard broke the window of the door, at which time Burnham threw the hammer through the window, nearly striking Sergeant Shephard and Deputy Stokes.
Deputy Stokes was able to deploy his pepper spray; however, it did not have any effect on the suspect.
Once deputies pried the door open, Burnham began to throw objects at the deputies.
K-9 Deputy Hryc then deployed K-9 Zeus.
K-9 Zeus charged Burnham, at which time he struck the dog with a metal baseball bat, which caused K-9 Zeus to retreat.
Burnham continued to swing the metal baseball bat at deputies. He then launched a fuel canister, which spilled all over the floor. At that time, Deputy Stokes grabbed the bat.
Deputies Stokes and Cruz were then able to deploy their Tasers and subdue Burnham.
Burnham was charged with Aggravated Domestic Battery, Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer, Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer, Battery on a Law Enforcement Canine, and Resisting Arrest.
Dr. Mack, with Dunnellon Animal Hospital treated K-9 Zeus at 3 a.m. Zeus has since made a full recovery.
Deputies were not seriously injured during the incident.
Ocala, Florida — The Ocala Police department is asking for the public’s assistance in locating $47,999 in farm equipment that was stolen from a 4-H farm located at 4020 SE 3rd Avenue, Ocala.
The 4-H farm is owned by Richard E. Sherman.
Sherman told Ocala Police officer Douglas Russell that the farm is a free donation to all of the public schools and 4-H programs in Marion County. The equipment was purchased so the children could learn how to use and operate the farm once it becomes fully operational.
According to reports, unknown person(s) cut the heavy duty lock on the storage barn with bolt cutters.
The equipment that was taken was a 2014 John Deere Gator Utility Truck valued at $9,499; a John Deere 4120 Compact Tractor with bucket valued at $30,000, and a John Deere ZTrak Zero-Turn riding mower valued at $8,500.
Example of what was stolen
An evidence officer processed the scene for evidence, including “sweeping” the area for DNA.
OPD found vehicle tracks that lead through a cut fence at Grace Christian School, which is right next door to the farm.
Evidence supports the fact that a trailer was backed up into the bed of the retention pond north of the soccer field where the equipment was then loaded onto the trailer.
The thieves knew exactly where the equipment was located. Additionally, they also knew how to maneuver around the farm undetected and out of sight from passers-by.
The owner is offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to the return of the equipment.
If you know someone that has just obtained new farm equipment, you are asked to contact the Ocala Police Department by calling 352-369-7000; by contacting Crime Stoppers of Marion County at 352-368-STOP(7867), www.ocalacrimestoppers.com; or by texting tips to 274637 using keyword 368STOP. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through the OPD mobile app, MYPD, which can be downloaded on Apple and Android devices.
Ocala, Florida — Join the fight on Saturday, September 20, 2014, at the Marion County Sheriff’s Office for the “In Hot Pursuit: Running for a Cure 5K”, hosted by Marion County Public Safety Supports a Cure.
All proceeds from this event benefit Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.
Brandon Matthews [Mugshot] Wanted: Considered armed and extremely dangerous.
Winter Haven, Florida— The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s assistance in locating 29-year-old Brandon Matthews of Winter Haven.
Matthews has Polk County warrants for Armed Robbery and Attempted Murder.
Detectives say Matthews already had a warrant for an armed robbery committed on August 14, 2014, on Edwin Avenue NE in Winter Haven.
Most recently, between 4:30 a.m. and 4:45 a.m. on August 23, 2014, at 11145 38th Street NW in Winter Haven, Matthews became involved in an altercation during which he fired several rounds from a handgun toward the residence, striking an adult female.
She is listed in critical , but stable condition.
Matthews is now wanted for attempted murder.
Matthews is 5’7″ and weighs approximately 164 lbs.
Detectives said Matthews is extremely violent and has an explosive temper. He also has an extensive arrest history involving violent crimes.
He is to be considered armed and extremely dangerous. If you see him do not approach him, call 911 immediately or if you have information on the whereabouts of Brandon Matthews, please contact Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS (8477). Anonymity is guaranteed!
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is asking for your help in flushing this criminal out.
The Tennessee Titans finished the 2013 season with a 7-9 record. The Titans used the 11th overall pick in the draft on offensive tackle Taylor Lewan. Tennessee is looking to improve their offense this year and building up a solid offensive line is always a good place to start.
The Titans ranked 14th in the league in rushing yards per game. Tennessee took a huge blow when they lost starting running back Chris Johnson to free agency, as he has been a huge part in their offense for the past few years. Expect Shonn Greene to take Johnson’s spot in the Titans’ offense this year.
Tennessee ranked 21st in passing yards per game last year which was in large part due to the injuries sustained to starting quarterback Jake Locker. The Titans should have a good passing game so long as all their key pieces stay healthy. Locker has a good receiving core in Kendall Wright and Nate Washington so the Titans should pose a threat to any opposing secondary.
The Titans did show some promise in 2013 in regards to their secondary as they ranked 11th in the league. The Titans should have one of the best passing defenses in the league next year with Bernard Pollard, Alterraun Verner, and Michael Griffin; these 3 will combine to cause a nightmare for any offense.
The Titans still have a lot of room for improvement in their front seven, as they ranked 20th in rushing yards allowed per game. This front seven should only improve this year as they are lead by Zach Brown and Moise Fokou. The Titans should be able to put together a pretty decent run stopping game this year.
Expect the Titans to finish the year with an 8-8 record this year.
Ocala, Florida — One of Ocala’s dumbest criminals, who had smiled for a photo after the store clerk became suspicious of her transaction, has now been identified.
The Ocala Police Department obtained an arrest warrant today for Mashana Michelle Harris, 26.
The woman in the photo was seen posing with a stolen Amex Express Macy’s credit card. The wallet she was holding was also stolen.
According to reports, the woman used the stolen card to purchase more than $400 in beauty supplies from Looking Good Beauty Supply, located at 1971 West Silver Springs Boulevard.
The clerk told police that he became suspicious after the suspect could not produce a state ID, but instead showed a picture of the victim she had stolen the credit cards from.
He said he asked if he could take a picture with the suspect holding the card and she happily obliged.
According to reports, Harris’ attorney contacted Ocala Police Department Detective Mark Proco and stated that he might be representing Harris. Detective Proco advised the attorney he needed a face-to-face or phone interview with Harris to discuss the incident.
A few days later, the attorney called back. He stated that Harris did not wish to be interviewed and that he was representing her.
The attorney would only state that Harris “found” the wallet in the parking lot of the Good Beauty Store.
Harris may have ties to Levy County.
If you know the whereabouts of Harris, you are asked to contact the Ocala Police Department by calling 352-369-7000; by contacting Crime Stoppers of Marion County at 352-368-STOP(7867), www.ocalacrimestoppers.com; or by texting tips to 274637 using keyword 368STOP. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through the OPD mobile app, MYPD, which can be downloaded on Apple and Android devices.
According to OPD, it was because of previous media releases that Harris was identified.
Ocala Police are asking for everyone’s help in sharing the photo on social media.
FWC researchers Eric Muhlbach, Kate Hubbard and Sheila O’Dea collecting water samples.
A large offshore bloom of Karenia brevis, the Florida red tide organism, has been detected this month in the northeast Gulf of Mexico.
Satellite images from the Optical Oceanography Laboratory at the University of South Florida showed a patchy bloom at least 20 miles offshore between Dixie and northern Pinellas counties in northwest and southwest Florida. FWC’s Fish Kill Hotline has received numerous reports of a widespread fish kill.
Karenia brevis was detected in background concentrations in one water sample analyzed from offshore of Walton County and background to medium concentrations in the bloom area offshore of Dixie, Levy, Citrus, and Hernando Counties. In addition, K. brevis was detected in background to very low concentrations in eight samples collected in, and alongshore of, Pinellas and Sarasota counties in southwest Florida.
No bloom concentrations of red tide have been detected alongshore or inshore of any of the areas sampled.
Forecasts by the Collaboration for Prediction of Red Tides show water movement proceeding south and slightly away from the coast for the next several days.
Additional samples collected throughout Florida this week did not contain the Florida red tide, Karenia brevis.
FWC has received multiple reports of fish kills and reports of discolored water over the past couple of weeks in the Indian River Lagoon system on the east coast of Florida.
Sampling has revealed bloom concentrations of multiple algae species, including Takayama tuberculata and Pyrodinium bahamense. In addition, a bloom of Pyrodinium bahamense has been ongoing in Tampa Bay since May and discolored water has been reported.
Ocala, Florida — Recently, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by Ocala Star-Banner reporter, Bill Thompson, with a series of questions, to which they responded with alacrity.
The Sheriff’s Office said they bent over backwards and provided very detailed answers, all of which are available through public record.
Professional Compliance Bureau Chief, Major Don Maines, requested an honest article, including truthful reporting without slanting or picking apart answers and then creating an untruthful answer just to gain readership.
“The Sheriff is trying to build a relationship with the citizens of Marion County by being transparent and we will not allow false and distorted reporting destroy that relationship,” Major Maines said.
Ocala Post utilized multiple investigative techniques to gather information in this investigative report. Additionally, Ocala Post was provided with more than 300 pages of documents, which included a lengthy report from the independent surveyor Evergreen Solutions, LLC.
In addition to Evergreen Solutions, information was gathered from other independent sources such as Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), articles previously written by Ocala Post, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, public records, county meeting records, the Department of Justice (DOJ), and other miscellaneous sources.
The actual story:
In a letter dated May 29, 2014, it reads:
Dear Chairman Zalak:
I respectfully submit the attached budget request for fiscal year 2014-2015. While I am keenly aware of the commissions’ stance on increasing taxes, after intense consideration, I have submitted a budget based on the 5-year strategic planning scenarios that were submitted to the commission earlier in May. I have chosen to base this year’s budget request on the scenarios that would be considered not the best options or the worst options, but will, at a minimum, begin addressing the critical needs that are present at the Sheriff’s Office. It is also prudent to mention that should a public safety sales tax be adopted, it may reduce up to 5.7% of this budget proposal from the budget funded by ad valorem millage rates. As required by Statute, the following is the Sheriff’s Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2014-2015:
TOTAL SHERIFF’S BUDGET $7,753,025.
Respectfully Submitted,
Sheriff Blair
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Marion County Sheriff’s Office Administrative Bureau Chief Gregg Jerald said,” The budget request was not for $8 million or even $10 million, which Thompson had previously reported; the actual figure was $7.7 million.”
Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer, Captain James Pogue, said, “Sheriff Blair is trying to emphasize the importance of public safety and get the public to understand that our lack of funds is a very serious problem.”
He said regardless of the fact that recent reports incorrectly noted the base pay for starting deputies —the real issue should have been focused on call for service response times.
Captain Pogue said the information was provided; however, the facts were not used.
According to documents provided to Ocala Post, not only was vital information ignored, but it also seemed to have been purposely misconstrued in the Ocala Star-Banner’s recent article.
Jerald claims answers to questions that were asked of the Sheriff’s Office by Thompson, which apparently did not fit the agenda-driven story, were simply ignored by Thompson and not printed in the article that was published.
Liabilities:
Sheriff Blair was recently accused of “backpedalling” on the issue of accrued sick leave, namely the accrued sick leave totaling $160,000 for two of Sheriff Blair’s key advisors.
When Chief Deputy Fred LaTorre and Major Tommy Bibb came out of retirement following Sheriff Blair’s election, he reinstated their sick leave that they had accumulated prior to their retirement. The sick leave does in fact total $160,000 on paper.
However, according to both Jerald and Captain James Pogue, their sick leave does not hold any cash value.
Jerald said, “It’s not like they get to cash out on the sick leave and walk away with $160,000 if they retire. It absolutely has no cash value… sure, it’s on the books for accounting reasons, but they cannot cash out on the sick leave and walk out the door with $160,000.”
Jerald further pointed out that Thompson used the sick leave attack without ever giving the Sheriff’s Office notice or the opportunity to explain how the accrued sick leave works prior to the writer utilizing the assertion in order to project a poor reflection on the Sheriff.
Response Time:
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) receives approximately 700 to 800 calls per day, and many times those calls are held in a queue — unable to be dispatched — due to the lack of deputies on the road.
Marion County Sheriff’s Office Communications Director Karl Oltz says that calls for service are being held on a daily basis.
Jerald said not only did Thompson fail to speak with Oltz as a part of his “Watch Dog” article as Captain Pogue suggested he should, but he also failed to address the significant response time in the section of his article entitled “Response Times.”
“This issue is real,” said Captain Pogue.”
Although Sheriff Blair was elected in 2012, the Sheriff’s office cited a case from 2009 in which a deputy was shot and waited ten (10) minutes for backup to arrive. Pogue said Thompson made it seem as though the 2009 case was not relevant due to the fact it was several years ago, and again used that as an opportunity to “pounce” on the Sheriff’s Office in the aforementioned article.
“The 2009 case was specifically utilized to tie back a quote of former Sheriff Dean, showing that this is a problem that has existed for many years and it is not something new to this agency. These problems have existed for years,” said Jerald.
The public should know the frightening truth about the wait time for a deputy to arrive after a call to 911 has been placed; while keeping in mind it is due to budget constraints that have created a serious lack of man power.
Ocala Post requested dozens of cases in which response time was critical to the survival of the victim. The least amount of wait time for a deputy to arrive to a serious call for service was 12 minutes with the longest time being 42 minutes. And while the overall average time is just slightly over 11 minutes; the Sheriff’s Office said it should be much lower.
Many of the cases involved domestic battery, home invasions, and a robbery of a business during regular business hours. All cases Ocala Post examined were from the past 12 months, with an increase in violent crimes in the past six months, as well as multiple shootings — some involving death — within the last three months.
In Marion Oaks, two males kicked in the front door while a 16-year-old girl was home alone. She ran and hid in a closet, simultaneously texting her dad, telling him two intruders had entered their home. The dad was 15 minutes away. He dialed 911 but deputies were 25 minutes away. Meanwhile, the intruders found the girl and planned to rape her while holding a large caliber handgun to her head. Moments later, the girl’s father pulled into the yard and chased the suspects away, but not before they fired multiple shots at him. Deputies finally arrived on the scene, but the suspects were long gone.
This is just one of many, many stories that take place in Marion County on a daily basis.
Some have mocked the aforementioned examples, sarcastically calling them “shocking stories,” while a reasonable person with common sense would call it a tragedy waiting to happen.
The population of Marion County is approximately 335,008, and while Marion County is shared with three other law enforcement agencies, the Sheriff’s Office essentially has jurisdiction throughout the entire county and is solely responsible for the approximately 81 percent of residents that live in unincorporated Marion County. According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, if a person were to subtract the citizens within the other agencies’ jurisdictions, it still leaves approximately 271,000 residents to be protected by the Sheriff’s Office.
Marion Oaks alone contains approximately 35,000 residents, and is one of the most crime-ridden communities in Marion County. Often times, there is only one deputy to patrol the entire area. Same as with the Ocala National Forest, where calls for service may have wait times of 30 minutes or longer. Long deputy response times are not just prevalent in these two districts.
“Residents have the right to know the facts and we provided those facts…they were just misrepresented in the Star-Banner’s article in order to fit the writer’s agenda,” said Major Don Maines.
How many times have you heard someone say, “Where’s a cop when you need one?” Well, they are spread thin due to lack of budget; therefore, they cannot possibly be everywhere at once in a county over more than 1,600 square miles — the fifth largest by land mass in the state of Florida.
Budget, Salary and Taxes
A main concern of residents is over the increase of property taxes.
One person wrote, “When Blair ran, he promised there would not be an increase in taxes. He needs to work with former Sheriff Ed Deans budget.”
Jerald said, “We were asked about the budget, salaries, and the half-cent sales tax increase and we provided the answer. However, once again, the answer was not used, but instead “tweaked” to support an agenda.”
“In the last paragraph of the Star-Banner article it was written so as to lead the reader to believe that Blair was not intelligent enough to make a public records request while running for sheriff in 2012. The writer wrote, ‘presumably the information would have been available to Blair through a public records request,’” said Jerald.
Jerald added, “Blair did make a public records request, and that information was also provided to Thompson during our two-hour meeting regarding the answers to his questions. In fact, Thompson was specifically told during the meeting that all information Blair utilized as a candidate was information provided to him by the Sheriff’s Office through a public records request.
“Additionally, quotes from the Sheriff’s Office were taken from answers to certain questions and then used as answers with questions the quotes did not belong with. Completely altering the actual responses,” said Jerald.
Documentation provided to Ocala Post shows that a public records request was made and the information received by then candidate Blair was provided by the previous administration of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. However, that information conveniently left out the fact that there was a $4.5 million deficit in the MSTU budget, which funds the Sheriff’s Office patrol and investigative functions.
Citizens want to know why Sheriff Blair promised no taxes, yet the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) raised the MSTU tax in 2013, and now Sheriff Blair has proposed a half-cent sales tax. At the same time, others want to know why the Sheriff’s Office called the MSTU increase a victory.
Answer:
A candidate running from outside the agency does not have all of the information that someone inside the agency would have, and much of the information was not made known — in regards to the condition of the MCSO during the campaign — for obvious reasons.
Soon after taking office, Sheriff Blair met with County Budget Director Michael Tomich, who for the first time advised the Sheriff that there was a $4 million hole on the MSTU budget for the current fiscal year.
Jerald said, “This hole would have meant laying off a significant number of deputies and was not something Sheriff Blair had any knowledge of as a candidate, nor could he.”
“It was a victory for our community that the MSTU was raised so that a mass deputy layoff did not occur. Had those deputy layoffs occurred, the MCSO would be at, or very near, the bottom of the state in terms of deputy strength — despite having the fifth largest county in square mileage to control. It would have been a disaster for the agency, as well as for the community; so, yes, it was a victory,” Jerald said.
Commissioner Kathy Bryant noted in the final budget hearing that they (the BCC) had charged on a credit card for years and now was the time to pay the bill.
The $4 million deficit occurred due to using reserves, carry-forwards, and other means to fill the hole on the MSTU budget — due to declining property values while keeping the millage rate flat. Even during those years, the BCC found ways to fill the hole to avoid the mass deputy layoffs that would have otherwise resulted.
Thereafter, as Commissioner Bryant stated, it was time to “pay the credit card” as there was no money (reserves, carry-forwards, etc.) to continue filling the MSTU hole that had been dug during the preceding years. Had this hole not existed, and the Florida Retirement System (FRS) and medical expenses not risen $1.8 million, the Sheriff would have been able to hire additional deputies without an increase in the MSTU. In fact, had the commission not required the Sheriff to absorb the $1.8 million in retirement and health increases, the Sheriff would have been able to keep his campaign pledge by hiring approximately 30 to 35 deputies with the funds he saved from not replacing supervisors.
However, the Sheriff had no control, or knowledge, of either issue as a candidate. Had the true state of the MSTU been honestly presented, or reported, during the years leading up to the 2012 election, it is very likely that the campaign, and the promises of the candidates, would have been different.
Jerald said the reasoning behind the half-cent sales tax is simple — given the significant hole that has been dug at the MCSO (at no fault of the current administration) from having capital funding stripped from its budget, and the huge amount of pent-up capital needs, the Sheriff thought a potential half-cent sales tax was a better option rather than those expenses being placed on the backs of property owners.
The Sheriff believes a sales tax is a more equitable means of finding these needs than a property tax and that was the driver behind the sales tax proposition.
It should also be noted that under the previous administration, former Sheriff Ed Dean and Jerry Holland were the only two people with access to the budget, according to Captain Pogue.
There was no system of checks and balances as there has been under the direction of every other sheriff.
Captain Pogue said that it has always been customary for each bureau chief to have control over their own budget, that way each department would know if they were allowed over time or if there was room for new equipment.
“Instead of Dean purchasing new equipment, cars, or hiring new deputies, he was returning “turn-back” monies to be used for the following year’s budget. He did that for years, and that is how the deficit came to be,” Captain Pogue said.
“When former Sheriff Dean was appointed, he took it away from each individual department. Ultimately removing the system of checks and balances,” said Captain Pogue.
He went on to say, “No one in the office knew about the $4.5 million dollar deficit because the previous administration was not very transparent. Now that the Sheriff’s Office is transparent we have exposed the deficit, deteriorating equipment, patrol cars, and a serious lack of man power.”
Captain Pogue insists the MCSO no longer conducts business like that.
Salary and Staffing Levels (attracting new deputies):
According to data provided by the FDLE, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office is currently in the bottom ten (10) for lowest starting salaries out of all Sheriff’s Offices in Florida.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office is actually ranked number six (6) for lowest paying. And out of the bottom ten (10), Marion County by far has highest population.
[Click on photo to enlarge]According to the FDLE, in 2010 the Marion County Sheriff’s Office was 12th lowest in terms of starting salary.
The Sheriff’s Office declined to the seventh (7th) lowest in 2012 and are currently sixth (6th) lowest as Jackson County has raised their starting salary to $30,719 and the 2012 FDLE numbers misstate the MCSO starting salary as $28,600 rather than the actual $28,520 – although FDLE numbers have not been updated for 2013 or 2014. Accordingly, the Sheriff’s Office is currently sixth (6th) lowest – 61st lowest out of 67 counties — in terms of starting salary.
However, as you can see from the significant drop from 12th to 6th lowest in the last four years, should starting salaries remain the same, the Sheriff’s Office can expect to be at or near the bottom within the next several years. Moreover, when speaking about the ability to attract new deputies it must also be pointed out that the counties with lower starting salaries than Marion have an average population of 14,464 – or about 4.5 percent of the people that reside in Marion County.
By comparison, Manatee County, the county with the closest population numbers to Marion, starts deputies at $39,689. Moreover, even within our own county, the Ocala, Dunnellon, and Belleview police departments all have starting salaries well above the MCSO. Even Marion County park rangers have starting salaries of $42,000. In this environment, the MCSO is uncompetitive to attract deputy sheriffs.
Major Maines said, “Logically, Marion County cannot be compared to Pasco or Lee County, as set forth in the Thompson article as comparable counties, as their populations are much greater.
Lee County: 645,293
Pasco County: 470,391
Many agencies offer signing bonuses and a moving allowance. This is in addition to a much higher starting annual salary plus benefits as compared to MCSO. Other agencies can offer attractive salaries and incentives because there budget allows it. And as with any agency, they offer higher salaries to those with higher education, experience, or both.
The Gainesville Police Department, who recruits from the College of Central Florida Criminal Justice Institute, offers a very attractive starting salary, again, because their budget allows for it.
Provided by the Gainesville PD website [Click on photo to enlarge]Major Maines said, “I don’t blame cadets for applying to other agencies. No one wants to get paid $28,520 when they could be making $10,000 more a year somewhere else.”
Evergreen Solutions, LLC, a group based out of Tallahassee noted that because of the low salary levels, it would have a significant impact on the agency’s ability to attract, and retain, qualified deputies. Evergreen evaluated the Marion County Sheriff’s Office against 15 other agencies and agreed that the Sheriff’s Office, taking the population and square mileage of Marion County into consideration, is by far the lowest paid agency.
This has been Sheriff Blair’s point from the beginning.
Jerald reiterated the fact by saying, “We are losing deputies to other agencies…even after we have hired them. We just lost a deputy to the Lady Lake Police Department, two to FDLE, and one to Sunrise PD. Even after a deputy is hired they continue looking for higher pay.”
When asked if the MCSO has had many applicants, Chief Fred LaTorre said, “Sure, we get applicants…that have usually been fired from other agencies. And we will not lower our standards by hiring deputies that have a questionable work ethic.”
Boots on the Ground:
Sheriff Blair maintains that correcting the man power shortage within his agency in an effort to protect Marion County Residents is a top priority.
It was mentioned that FDLE data from 2010 through 2012 indicated that MCSO’s ratio was about one (1) deputy per 1,000 residents. It increases to 1.5 per 1,000 deputies if “concurrent” deputies are counted.
Initially, Blair said he needed to hire 286 new patrol deputies to align the county’s deputy-to-population ratio with the state average and told the County Commission in May 2013 and July 2013 that the ratio was .71 deputies for each 1,000 county residents, relative to the state average of 1.7 per 1,000 people.
Answer:
There is not a Sheriff’s Office that uses “concurrent” deputies in determining their deputy strength. The concurrent number includes those individuals who have Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) certification but are in the jail for whatever reason – whether career choice or by assignment. The state average figure is also not the “concurrent” number.
During 2013, the state average dropped to 1.6 per 1,000. Today, it would require the hiring of 171 deputies immediately, to reach the state average.
In 2013, when the Sheriff spoke of adding 286 deputies, which was in reference to what it would take to align Marion County with comparable counties that have more than 1,400 square miles (those counties: Volusia, Brevard, and Osceola average 2.0 per 1,000). The .71 per 1,000 figure is, again, just another way of quantifying where the MCSO stands for deputy strength.
“The .71 per 1,000 comes from what they consider their actual “boots on the ground” – deputies at the rank of sergeant and below, of which they have 191. The 191 “boots on the ground” out of the unincorporated population of 271,000 is .71 deputies per 1,000. That is a more realistic quantification of the real man power they have,” said Jerald.
Jerald said the .71 per 1,000 figure is not used more often because they don’t have the means to compare that to other agencies as it is not something FDLE tracks.
You could also look at national and regional staffing data, which indicates that the average southern law enforcement agency with population exceeding 250,000 should have 2.55 deputies per 1,000. To reach this number would require the MCSO to add 425 new deputies. There are numerous ways to benchmark where you are at as an agency in terms of deputy strength.
As a result, for benchmarking purposes we have tended to regularly use the FDLE numbers as that is the only source for benchmarking our agency against others in the state.
Murders/Homicide:
It was inferred that Sheriff Blair lied about the amount of homicides that have happened in Marion County by stating there were 20 when there were allegedly only eleven (11) handled by the Sheriff’s Office.
According to FDLE Public Information Officer Samantha Andrews, homicides and murders are two separate entries when tallying up a body count. She said that is because homicide and murder do not share the same definition. Therefore, when considering the body count, both homicide and murder must be factored into the equation as they are listed separately on FDLE’s crime statistics.
In other words, if a county had thirteen (13) homicides and seven (7) murders; then the body count would actually be 20, not 13.
Andrews said each agency submits an UCR (Uniform Crime Report) along with a Supplemental Homicide report with an assigned case number per incident. Each incident is then broken down and the victims counted. Sometimes there would be two report numbers per incident because that one case may have contained two victims. Additionally, Andrews said, the information used by FDLE is submitted by each individual agency. In other words, if an agency fails to report crimes then FDLE does not factor in that section in the crime statistics.
“People want to question why Blair took credit for a slight decrease in crime, yet the second crime increases, those same people want to blame him. Marion County residents should have the facts and not be misled,” said Major Maines.
“The fact is that during Sheriff Blair’s first year in office crime in Marion County was down 5.1 percent — a feat only accomplished three times during the 14 years of the prior administration,” said Major Maines.
Some have also tried to mislead the public into believing that the crime index in Marion County has steadily been declining since 2000 and cited sex crimes as the main category that has decreased.
Answer:
A person cannot compare sex crimes as a stand-alone category to make a larger argument about the index crime rate. This is because the index crime rate only tracks “forcible rape” and does not take into account any other type of sex crime (i.e., molestation, lewd act with a minor, statutory rape, lewd and lascivious acts, sex assault, child pornography, exhibitionism, groping, human trafficking, indecent exposure, prostitution, sexual harassment, etc.).
As the Sheriff noted, “sex crimes” as a category was up in 2013 as compared to 2012. Moreover, the Sheriff did lower crime during his first year in office. In his first year, the crime index was down 5.1 percent in Marion County and the actual crime rate was down even further – by 5.7 percent as reported by FDLE. By comparison, between 2000 and 2012 the average crime rate reduction was 4.2 percent with only three (3) out of those 13 years having greater crime rate decreases than experienced by Marion County during Sheriff Blair’s first year in office. Therefore, given these remarkable results, a reasonable person would look to see if anything was done differently.
The Sheriff’s creation and use of the “Fugitive Apprehension Unit” and the “Tactical Investigations Unit” were significant changes and driving factors in the decrease during the Sheriff’s first year in office at a rate that exceeded the state average.
In fact, just using the FAU as an example, outstanding arrest warrants were decreased by 23 percent during Sheriff Blair’s first year in office. That was 23 percent fewer criminals with warrants for their arrest who were on the streets of Marion County and out recommitting crimes. That, in and of itself, would contribute to lower crime.
Sex crimes can be up with an overall decrease in the index crime rate, which tracks several different crimes. Both stats can be true and it is rare that all categories of index crime would be universally up or down.
It should also be cautioned against relying heavily on the reported index crime rate as the sole indicator of law enforcement service or needs.
As stated in the five-year plan, there were 4,942 index crimes during 2013 – accounting for only about 2 percent of the total calls for service to the MCSO. The index crime rate does not take into account most drugs cases, domestic calls, fleeing & eluding, most sex crimes, and a large number of other felonious activities.
Captain Pogue said Sheriff Blair has strengthened the agencies relationship with probation and parole officers.
“They can now call and let our agency know they are going to violate someone and we pick that person up immediately…usually within 24 hours,” Pogue said. He added, “They are no longer walking the streets to commit other crimes.”
Top Heavy (previous administration)
As a candidate in 2012, Sheriff Blair talked about the former administration having too many chiefs and not enough Indians. Former Sheriff Dean was paying his “top staff” of 21 people $2.3 million, and it was recently said that it was Sheriff Blair’s “Battle Cry.” (Referring to an article printed in the Ocala Magazine).
Some have criticized Sheriff Blair, citing the number was $1.97 million; a difference of $330,000.
Answer:
Any information used by the Sheriff during the campaign was information provided to his campaign by the Sheriff’s Office pursuant to a public records request. Jerald said he would suspect that the numbers might be $300,000 or so off as they may reflect salaries for those positions, but not include benefits (health, retirement, etc.) which all go into total compensation.
In any event, Jerald said, “Blair cannot be blamed for information that was provided to him by the agency as a candidate. Moreover, the Ocala Magazine article did not quote the Sheriff as saying his campaign ‘battle cry’ had anything to do with the pay of the ‘top 21’ employees at the agency, but rather, the Ocala Magazine article states that the ‘battle cry’ was that ‘there were too many supervisors at the top of the Sheriff’s Office; Dan Kuhn, his Republican counterpart, being one of them.’”
The Sheriff has held true to that campaign promise by eliminating approximately 24 supervisory positions within the MCSO since taking office. The 2012 Command Staff Listing depicts 21 positions under the title “Sheriff’s Senior Command Staff” under the previous administration.
Sheriff Blair’s current roster under the title “Sheriff’s Executive Staff” reflects 14 members. Sheriff Blair has addressed his pledge to reduce the top heaviness of the agency during his tenure. As noted, he has eliminated 24 supervisory positions and cut those positions associated with senior/executive level staff.
Simply comparing the top 21 positions from the previous administration to those of the current administration does not reflect a true picture and does not reflect the “battle cry” of candidate Blair in 2012, which focused on the top-heaviness that existed at that time in the Sheriff’s Office.
The Blair administration has eliminated supervisory positions as candidate Blair promised! The Sheriff’s current 21 highest paid employees are paid a cumulative $1.92 million; however, by year-end, three (3) captains currently on that list will be gone from the agency, which will lower the top 21 paid positions further down to $1.88 million. Accordingly, by year-end the Sheriff’s top 21 paid positions will be down between $100,000 and $120,000 from the top 21 paid positions under the former administration. With additional retirements in the next couple of years, numbers will continue to decrease. As set forth above, this decrease in the salaries of the top 21 employees is on top of the approximately $1.8 million that has been saved through the elimination of 24 supervisory positions since Sheriff Blair assumed office.
Comparing Apples to Oranges
Commissioner Stan McClain claims that the Sheriff’s Office had been “well-funded” in recent years.
Blair stated that the agency has lost 39 percent in revenue.
It was recently inferred that the Sheriff’s Office only declined 12 percent in revenue in comparison to the court clerk, elections supervisor, property appraiser, and tax collector.
Answer:
The numbers about the comparisons among other constitutionals is not appropriate, as those offices do not perform the same service as the MCSO and are not 24/7 operations that deal with protecting the public. During the Okeechobee County appeal hearing in Tallahassee, upon questioning by the Board, the Okeechobee BCC had to concede that law enforcement is fundamentally different from the other offices and could not be compared to one another.
That being said, despite Commissioner McClain’s statement that the MCSO has been well-funded – that is not the case. In fact, the MCSO received 17.7 percent of the overall county budget in 2000, but by 2013, that number was down to 13.3 percent. If the MCSO was still receiving 17.7 percent of the county budget, it would receive $92.3 million in funding – approximately $25 million more than its current budget.
However, between 2000 and today, the funding priorities within county government changed to place less monetarily in law enforcement and more in other county services and offices.
As another comparison, our neighboring counties’ Sheriff’s Offices average 16.3 percent of the total county budget, which, if that same funding level was appropriated to the MCSO, would give the agency a nearly $85 million budget – approximately $18 million more than its current budget. As for the other constitutionals, while the Sheriff’s Office has lost approximately 4.5 percent of its share of the total county budget since 2000, the other constitutionals have remained relatively flat as a percentage of the total county budget with the largest decrease at the tax collector being down approximately 0.7 percent during that time period.
Commission Broke the Law:
County Attorney Guy Minter accused Sheriff Blair of using Florida Statute 30.49(4) out of context. This statue addresses the Career Service Act.
However, the statute clearly states that the BCC must, at a minimum, fund the entire Sheriff’s operations from the prior year. The commission is free to reduce the “proposed” budget but not the Sheriff’s “actual” budget below the previous year.
Jerald said,” If the language was so clear as stated by Minter, then why would the legislature have even included the last sentence in that subsection? They could have ended the subsection without including the last sentence, but they did not.”
He went on to say, “The reason, we believe, is a recognition by the legislature of the importance of the public safety to be immune from political winds or economic distresses that could imperil funding for public safety. This law has not been argued in court at this point, however, there are a number of Sheriff’s who are interested in this being heard by a court when appropriate.”
Interestingly enough, Jerald said the day after Sheriff Blair accused the commission of violating the Career Service Act, Commissioner Kathy Bryant showed up at the Sheriff’s Office to meet with Sheriff Blair on a Budget Compromise that would require the commission to do something they said they would never do — raise the MSTU.
Comments from Sheriff Blair:
Sheriff Blair is hoping that Marion County residents will see through the politics and voice their opinions. “The entire community needs to come together and help our Sheriff’s Department win this battle because it affects the community as a whole,” he said.
In September of 2013, Sheriff Blair told Ocala Post, “Do not let an experience you may have had with one deputy hinder your opinion of the Sheriff’s Department as a whole. To do so would not be fair to yourself, the community, or the Sheriff’s Department.”
He also said citizens need to make it personal and take control of the situation. Ask yourself, can you protect your family if deputies are 45 minutes away from your home during a home invasion?
Criminals often prey on the helpless. The Department of Justice conducted a survey among prison inmates and researcher Gary Kleck proved that 92 percent of criminal attacks are against citizens that are helpless or for some reason cannot defend themselves. Criminals are cowards; they will always prey on the weak.
The Sheriff’s Office asked some very good questions of their own.
Why was the previous administration never questioned by the Star-Banner or Thompson about their handling of the budget and their lack of a checks and balances system — all the while allowing the condition of the agency to deteriorate?
And why is the Sheriff’s Office being drilled with questions about an election campaign from 2012, as well as being questioned about things that happened under the previous administration?
It is apparent to the Sheriff’s Office that public safety has been reduced on the Commission’s list of priorities.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office warns that if they continue to be understaffed due to lack of budget, residents will pay the ultimate price.
The Indianapolis Colts had yet another great year behind quarterback Andrew Luck as he led them to an 11-5 record and also to the divisional round of the playoffs. The Colts did not have a first round pick in the draft this year as they traded it to the Cleveland Browns for running back Trent Richardson. Last season Richardson performed far from what the Colts were hoping for as he put up disappointing numbers after being traded to Indianapolis.
Through all the injuries and disappointments the Colts backfield experienced, they finished the year ranked 21st in rushing yards per game with 108.9. The Colts rushing attack can only improve as Richardson enters his second year with the Colts. Hopefully an offseason and training camp with the Colts is just what Richardson needs to get back to his old ways.
The Colts ranked 17th in passing yards per game, but this is no cause for concern for Colts fan as their number one receiver Reggie Wayne tore his ACL in week 7 and would miss the remainder of the season. Wayne’s injury opened the door for T.Y. Hilton to have a breakout year with the team as he finished the year with 1083 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns. The Colts signed Hakeem Nicks in the offseason to help their receiving core for 2014. Nicks, Wayne and Hilton should combine for a dangerous threat on offense and with Luck leading the charge at quarterback there is no limit for this offense in 2014.
Indianapolis had quiet an impressive secondary last season as they ranked 13th in the league. Colts fans should expect much of the same from this secondary this year as they are lead by cornerback Vontae Davis. Davis is entering his 3rd season with the team and looks to put up impressive number again this season.
The only concern for this team is the front seven which ranked 26th in rushing yards allowed per game. Robert Mathias is no doubt the star of this front seven, as he led the league in sacks last season at 19.5. Mathias is going to miss the first four games of the season due to a drug suspension leaving an already vulnerable rushing defense even more exposed. In the divisional round of the 2013 playoffs the New England Patriots just ran through this defense as they accumulated 234 rushing yards and 6 rushing touchdowns. If the Colts can fix their problems in this department in 2014, they could be a team making a run for it all at the end of the season.
Expect the Colts to finish the season with a 12-4 record.
Joshua DeLong [Mugshot]Ocala, Florida — The Ocala Police Department said convicted felon, Joshua Keith DeLong, 28, left his three children — ages five, seven, and eight — in his Cadillac for four hours while he was inside Dr. B’s drinking.
According to the arrest affidavit, when Officer A. Colon arrived on the scene, DeLong was lying unconscious in the parking lot bleeding from a head injury.
A witness told police that she observed the children inside the car when the children started honking the horn and calling for their daddy.
The witness stated that she then walked inside the establishment and began to ask patrons who owned the gold Cadillac with the children inside.
The witness stated that once DeLong was located she stayed with the children who had been removed from the vehicle.
Security at Dr. B’s gave the same accounts as what the witness had stated to the police.
Security also told police that they were not the ones that inflicted the head injury upon DeLong.
According to reports, after security escorted DeLong outside to his car he attempted to drive off with the children while he was heavily intoxicated.
Security told police that is when an angry patron struck DeLong in the head, knocking him out.
DeLong was transported to ORMC and treated for his injuries.
Police said the children were in the vehicle for four hours with the windows rolled up and the keys in the ignition. Additionally, the children told police that “their daddy does this all the time.”
The children stated that they had eaten at Terry’s Bar and Grill earlier and instead of their father driving home, he went straight to Dr. B’s.
Despite multiple witnesses coming forward, DeLong told police he only drank three beers and denied that his children were in the car. Instead, he told police that he had left the children with their mother.
The mother denied dropping the kids off with DeLong, She stated to police that DeLong has had custody of the children for the past five days.
When asked about the injury to his head he told police that a group of angry guys jumped him because they were mad that he had left his kids in the car. He told police that the guys dragged him outside and then began striking him.
DeLong was charged with Felony Child Neglect (x3).
