Posted on 04/05/2006 10:42:14 AM PDT by davidosborne
Leon County commissioners took a decisive step Tuesday toward allowing voters to decide whether the county and city should have a merged law-enforcement agency under an elected sheriff.
The county commissioners voted to send Tallahassee commissioners ballot language for a proposed referendum, but that doesn't mean voters will have the chance to decide the issue of merging the Sheriff's Office and the Police Department. City commissioners - who so far have expressed no desire to merge the agencies - would have to agree to a dual referendum inside and outside city limits. Another alternative, which some consider unlikely, would be for the county to ask the Legislature for a special act authorizing a countywide vote on a merger.
(Excerpt) Read more at tdo.com ...
Please contact the Tallahassee City Commissioners and ask them to LET US VOTE !!
http://www.talgov.com/gov/commission.cfm
City Hall
300 South Adams Street
Tallahassee, FL 32301
850-891-0000
P.S. To my fellow freepers, I know this is a "local" issue but we can sure use your help.. the strongest "group" we are up against is the Police Union http://www.flpba.org Florida Police Benevolent Association PBA)... I don't generally like to oppose my fellow law enforcement officers, however IMHO, they are just wrong on this issue.....
I appreciate any help and/or comments on this issue...
Passing it on.. Request for assistance... Thanks..
Passing it on.. Request for assistance... Thanks..
BTTT
BTTT
"City commissioners - who so far have expressed no desire to merge the agencies ....."
And as long as your city commissioners *earn* $34,000 a year in that *grueling* job they will continue to stall efforts.
Frankly, I don't like either one. The elected sherrif is a political football, popular as long as he doesn't arrest too many people. The unionized police are no longer public servants. They don't have to be. They have their contracts.
The Sheriff is a constitutional officer who assigned duties and limitations by statute. He is the supreme law enforcement officer within a speciific territorial jurisdiction.
You are correct.. however the reality in this situation is the continued annexing of "unincorporated" areas into the "city limits"... while I am not opposed to anexation it does present the problem of who provides law enforcement services to the city... the Police Department or the Sheriff... or in out case BOTH.. Our Sheriff has made it very clear that residents INSIDE city limits may request law enforcement services from their ELECTED head of Law Enforcement...
yes, but what happens when the city Police Chief "asks" the Sheriff to stay out of the city? The Sheriff simply reminds the Police Chief that "YOUR CITY is in MY COUNTY".....etc...etc.
So what do you suggest?
Annexation in Florida is an entirely different area of law. Generally, annexation is tested by objectors in court based upon the reasonableness of the proposed act. Example, some cities in the past have tried to annex only along a busy street but not the areas behind, yet physically adjancent, to the property fronting the road. The reason? To benefit from the enhanced tax base of the businesses but not having to face the requirement to provide city services to the other areas (fire, police, water, drainage, etc). It's called ''strip annexation'' and the courts disallow it.
Someone is certain to test in court the act you complain of. In the end, it's a matter for the court system to resolve pursuant to statutory application and interpretation. Because, after all, and as much as folks who don't understand the purpose of the judicial system hate courts making interpretive decisions, that's what courts are supposed to do.
Maybe, if I moved out of the blue state, it would be clear.
Tallahassee city limits has continued to expand at a rapid pace to the point where the City Police Department has grown to point that we have ended up with TWO "comepteing" Law Enforcement Agencies, in other words TWO traffic units, TWO SWAT teams, TWO Dispatch Centers etc.. etc... Our Sheriff continues to serve the people of Leon County whether they live INSIDE or OUTSIDE of City Limits.. Citizens INSIDE the CITY who wish to recieve service from Sheriff's Office simply dial (850) 922-3300 instead of 911....
to futher complicate the situation the CITY dispatches for the POLICE DEPARTMENT and FIRE DEPARTMENT, and the COUNTY dispatches for the SHERIFF and EMS... which is a whole other issue, that will be resolved under consolidation.. the question is should the VOTERS have choice whether they want an ELECTED Sheriff or an APPOINTED Police Chief.... and I say YES
OK
Do you have any opinion on this issue as you now understand it..
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