logo
Bill that would prevent anonymous complaints against law enforcement approved by Florida House

Bill that would prevent anonymous complaints against law enforcement approved by Florida House

Yahoo25-04-2025

(Photo by)
A proposal to require any complaint against a law enforcement officer to be signed by the person filing the complaint — thus lifting their anonymity — was approved by the Florida House Thursday, but its chances of becoming law are moot as its Senate companion has never received a committee hearing.
The bill (HB 317), sponsored by Miami-Dade Republican Tom Fabricio, has bitterly divided law enforcement in Florida. The Florida Sheriffs Association and the Florida Police Chiefs Association have both came out in opposition to the bill. But the Florida Fraternal Order of Police and Florida Police Benevolent Association support it.
In committee meetings and again on the House floor on Thursday, Fabricio emphasized that his bill does not preclude individuals from making an anonymous complaint. However, the bill says that before any interrogations of the accused officer are to commence, that officer must be informed about the identity of the individual making the complaint.
Several House Democrats expressed concerns about the legislation.
'This bill builds walls around misconduct and discourages good officers and community members from speaking up,' said Broward County Rep. Daryl Campbell. 'Under this bill, no officer can be investigated unless they receive a copy of a signed, sworn complaint. That sounds reasonable, until you remember how rare it is for whistleblowers, whether it's civilians or fellow officers, to feel safe on the record, especially when it's about someone within their own department.'
SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Orlando Democratic Rep. LaVon Bracy Davis said, 'False accusations are serious, but so is unchecked power.'
'This bill doesn't protect justice, it protects silence,' she continued, adding that the Legislature last year passed measures severely restricting civilian review boards and enabling police, firefighters, and and paramedics to establish 25-foot no-go-zones around themselves while working.
'The Florida Police Chiefs Association and the Sheriffs Association both oppose this bill — that should tell us something,' said Bracy Davis. 'I don't just legislate for Tallahassee, I legislate through the lens of my district, a district representing all people, inclusive of of black, brown, and yes, blue lives. Let me clear: I back the blue, wholeheartedly, but I also back the Black and the brown.'
But Hillsborough County Republican Rep. Danny Alvarez, who in his job outside of the Legislature serves as general counsel for the Tampa Police Benevolent Association, blasted some of the Democrats' remarks.
'At some point, you have to stop attacking the 99.8 [percent] and start supporting them,' he said. 'At some point, you have to realize that the rhetoric that is absolutely anti-cop in this chamber has to be checked by your desire to have a safe and secure society with an accountability process that exists today. Cops are one of the most regulated people you have ever seen, and if you don't believe that, go be one.'
The House passed the measure, 93-16, with several Democrats joining Republicans.
However, the Senate bill (SB 516), sponsored by Hillsborough County Republican Jay Collins, was never heard in any committee of that chamber, meaning the measure is effectively dead for this session.
SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Obama's Doctor Gives Telling Update on Biden's Health Amid His Aggressive Cancer Diagnosis
Obama's Doctor Gives Telling Update on Biden's Health Amid His Aggressive Cancer Diagnosis

Yahoo

time27 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Obama's Doctor Gives Telling Update on Biden's Health Amid His Aggressive Cancer Diagnosis

Ever since former President Joe Biden announced his cancer diagnosis, there have been questions about his health. This is pretty much on par for the course; the same has happened to public figures like King Charles and Kate Middleton, too, after their own diagnosis. It's just that a lot of the conversation regarding Joe Biden's health has to do with the question of whether he should have run for a second term in office. It matters not that, in the end, Kamala Harris took over or that she lost the election anyway. Now, Barack Obama's former physician is adding to the questions surrounding Biden. Jeffrey Kuhlman said in an interview that the former President's doctor should have given him a cognitive test during his final year as president due to his age. The last report by White House physician Kevin O'Connor in February 2024 didn't include any mention of neurocognitive testing. Biden was 81 at the time. More from StyleCaster Obama Just Got Roped into Diddy's Trial in Shocking Claim King Charles Responds to Joe Biden's 'Aggressive' Cancer After Their Eerily Similar Diagnoses Related: Here are the celebrities who support Donald Trump 'Sometimes those closest to the tree miss the forest,' Kuhlman said of O'Connor, who also expressed that such a test would have given voters a clearer picture of whether Biden was up for another 4 years in the Presidency. 'It shouldn't be just health, it should be fitness,' Kuhlman said. 'Fitness is: Do you have that robust mind, body, spirit that you can do this physically, mentally, emotionally demanding job?' But Kuhlman stopped short of saying there was a conspiracy, calling O'Connor 'a good doctor' who seemed to do his best to 'give trusted medical advice.' 'I didn't see that he's purposely hiding stuff, but I don't know that,' he added. 'Maybe the investigation will show it.' This criticism comes as Republicans subpoenaed O'Connor and President Donald Trump ordered White House attorneys to determine if Biden's inner circle tried to conceal his alleged cognitive decline. Biden's diagnosis is of metastatic prostate cancer, the kind of diagnosis that sheds no light on his mental health, but reports about Biden's alleged decline have run rampant even before he stepped aside to allow his Vice President, Kamala Harris, to run. These claims were in many ways strengthened by the book published by journalists Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson, titled Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again. The book is based on interviews with Democratic insiders. Biden's response to this whole thing was telling. During a Memorial Day event, the former President said. 'You can see that I'm mentally incompetent, and I can't walk, and I can beat the hell out of both of them,' he told reporters. Meanwhile, his granddaughter, Naomi Biden, called the book 'political fairy smut.' The Republicans will continue to investigate the matter, but the facts remain that Joe Biden isn't President anymore, and he didn't even stay in the race until the end in 2024. If there was, indeed, a cognitive decline on his part, it clearly hurt the Democrats more than the Republicans and, perhaps, the party in power should be thankful for that. Best of StyleCaster The 26 Best Romantic Comedies to Watch if You Want to Know What Love Feels Like These 'Bachelor' Secrets & Rules Prove What Happens Behind the Scenes Is So Much Juicier BTS's 7 Members Were Discovered in the Most Unconventional Ways

US imposes sanctions on Los Chapitos, a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel
US imposes sanctions on Los Chapitos, a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel

Yahoo

time27 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

US imposes sanctions on Los Chapitos, a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel

By Daphne Psaledakis WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States on Monday imposed sanctions on Los Chapitos, a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, labeling it a Specially Designated Global Terrorist as President Donald Trump's administration seeks to tackle cross-border drug trafficking. The U.S. Treasury Department in a statement said it designated Los Chapitos under illicit drug and terrorism authorities, accusing it of facilitating trafficking and production of fentanyl, the lethally potent opioid. Two of its fugitive leaders, both sons of convicted Mexican drug kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, were also hit with sanctions, according to the Treasury Department. "Los Chapitos is a powerful, hyperviolent faction of the Sinaloa Cartel at the forefront of fentanyl trafficking into the United States," Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in the statement. "At the Department of the Treasury, we are executing on President Trump's mandate to completely eliminate drug cartels and take on violent leaders like 'El Chapo's' children. Treasury is maximizing all available tools to stop the fentanyl crisis and help save lives." The Treasury on Monday also imposed sanctions on what it said was a regional network of Los Chapitos associates and businesses based in Mexico. Monday's action freezes any of their U.S. assets and generally bars Americans from dealing with them. Those that engage in certain transactions with the sanctioned parties also risk being hit with sanctions. The move comes after the Trump administration in February designated Tren de Aragua, the Sinaloa Cartel and other drug cartels as global terrorist organizations. Trump, a Republican, issued an executive order after taking office on January 20 that called on officials to evaluate whether any criminal cartels or transnational gangs should be designated as terrorism groups. The U.S. terrorism designations have come alongside a government crackdown on migration, with thousands of foreigners being deported to third countries in Latin America.

NJ governor election: Who is running for NJ governor 2025? Check out the list.
NJ governor election: Who is running for NJ governor 2025? Check out the list.

Yahoo

time27 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

NJ governor election: Who is running for NJ governor 2025? Check out the list.

The 2025 primary is June 10 in New Jersey. Here are the ballot choices for governor that await Democratic and Republican voters who enter polling stations Tuesday. Hot topics: New Jersey farmers want to see these concerns tackled by a new governor Steve Sweeney, a former state Senate president. Sean Spiller, president of the New Jersey Education Association and former Montclair mayor. Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka. Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop. U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-NJ. U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-NJ. Issues: How GCL rail, other South Jersey public transit initiatives may hinge on governor's race Jack Ciattarelli, the GOP's 2021 gubernatorial nominee and a former state assemblyman. State Sen. Jon Bramnick, R-Union. Bill Spadea, a former conservative talk radio host. Justin Barbera, a contractor from Vincentown. Mario M. Kranjac, an attorney and former Englewood Cliffs mayor. Joe Smith is a N.E. Philly native transplanted to South Jersey 36 years ago, keeping an eye now on government in South Jersey. He is a former editor and current senior staff writer for The Daily Journal in Vineland, Courier-Post in Cherry Hill, and the Burlington County Times. Have a tip? Support local journalism with a subscription. This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: On Tuesday, Democrats Republicans pick their 2025 governor nominees

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store