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Volume 1, Issue 8 |
Friday, May 9, 2003 |
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Office of the Attorney General
PL-01, The Capitol
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Citizen Services
(850) 414-3990
Capitol Offices
(850) 245-0140
Fax
(850) 487-2564
Fraud Hotline
1-866-9-NO-SCAM
1-866-966-7226
Contact
Online Form
Web Page
http://myfloridalegal.com
Previous Issues
e-Newsletter
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Message from Attorney General Charlie Crist
How can a single occasion be solemn, somber — and uplifting, all at the same time? It can be all those things when it memorializes the loss of valiant law enforcement officers while celebrating the spirit of unfailing sacrifice that marked their heroic lives.
This week I had the opportunity to witness the awe-inspiring site of more than 1,000 law enforcement officers from across Florida as they marched in a procession to the Capitol for the 21st annual Police Memorial Service. I have attended this event every year since my days in the Florida Senate, and it is one of the most moving experiences of any year.
The immediate purpose of the memorial service is to pay tribute to the brave men and women who gave their lives in the previous year while protecting our safety and enforcing our laws. Sadly, tragedies last year made it necessary for us to recognize the passing of five officers who died in the line of duty. They are Union County Sheriff’s Deputy Renee D. Azure, Columbia County Sheriff’s Deputy Jefferson H. Davis, Tallahassee Police Sgt. Daniel Dale Green, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Deputy Donald Lee Schavolt, and Jacksonville Sheriff’s Officer Wilbert Wiggins.
Survivors of these five fallen heroes placed red flowers on a white map of the state to honor their loved ones. The officers’ names will now join 608 others on a black marble tribute honoring their memory in the Capitol Courtyard.
Indeed, this was an occasion for somber reflection. But it was also an occasion to celebrate the wonderful spirit of selflessness exhibited not just by these five fallen officers, but by every man and woman who has sworn an oath to protect and serve us, the citizens of Florida.
The global events of the past 20 months have given us all a deeper appreciation for the work done on our behalf by law enforcement officers. Their unflinching dedication is an inspiration to us all, and it is gratifying that the Legislature recently created a state Medal of Heroism, which the Governor can award to law enforcement or corrections officers or other emergency responders who risk their lives in service to others.
It would be all too easy to take these officers’ professionalism for granted, but this would be a terrible mistake. Our society of laws would crumble into the dust bin of history if we overlook these men and women and under-appreciate their value to us.
A source of great pride from my years in the Legislature was the ability to promote issues in support of our law enforcement officers by giving them the essential tools they need to do their jobs. It is my intention to carry on that tradition as Attorney General, where my position can allow me to be an even greater advocate for the brave Floridians who protect us every day.
Surely, they deserve nothing less.
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SUNSHINE EXEMPTIONS — Attorney General Crist issued a formal advisory opinion concluding that in order to comply with a constitutional amendment approved by the voters last year, the Florida Legislature must have a two-thirds majority vote in order to readopt existing exemptions to open-government laws. The Attorney General cited Florida’s “strong public policy of open government” in concluding that the Legislature may not restrict the public’s access to government records or meetings by simple majority vote. Click here to read the Attorney General’s Opinion.
POTENTIAL TRAGEDY DEFUSED — A training program offered by the Attorney General’s Office paid immediate dividends last week when a Martin County school resource officer recognized a student’s list of materials that could be used to make explosives, just five days after attending our SRO Response to Terrorism course. The course is a joint training initiative with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Florida Department of Education and the Florida Association of School Resource Officers. Because of the information gained at the workshop, the Martin County sheriff’s deputy was able to determine that the articles on the list obtained from the student are components needed to manufacture explosives. A search of the student’s home turned up more materials and literature that could be used to make explosives. In his police report, the deputy wrote, “Due to some recent training, I became very concerned” — a reference to the training he received in our course. The resource officer’s supervisor contacted Margaret Boeth, research and training specialist in Criminal Justice Programs, to thank her for the training his officer received. Said the supervisor: “It may have saved us from a tragedy.” This incident proves that training pays off. Congratulations to everyone associated with this and all training courses offered by the Attorney General’s Office.
LAW DAY CELEBRATIONS — Attorney General Crist was the featured speaker at two Florida events recognizing Law Day, an annual even recognizing the importance of the law in society. On Tuesday the Attorney General spoke in Boca Raton at a gathering of the South Palm Beach County Bar Association, and on Thursday he was the keynote speaker at the Citrus County Law Day luncheon in Hernando. In keeping with the theme of the events — “Celebrate Your Freedom: Independent Courts Protect Our Liberties” — Attorney General Crist discussed the importance of the judiciary in maintaining the freedoms to which all Americans are entitled.
THEFT PLEA — The Office of Statewide Prosecution struck a plea agreement with a Tampa stock broker who admitted to stealing more than $1 million from clients. Charles Francis Morgan pled guilty to 11 counts of grand theft and is expected to be sentenced to more than eight years in prison and must reimburse his victims and pay expenses associated with the investigation and prosecution of the charges against him. Statewide prosecutors said Morgan admitted to misleading 11 clients — whose average age is 64 — by making them believe they were investing in safe, secure investments when, in fact, he converted their moneys to his own personal use. The plea agreement came after a year-long joint investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Department of Financial Services and the Office of Statewide Prosecution.
TERRORISM TRIAL — Family members or injured victims of the September 11 terrorists attacks may be eligible to view a closed-circuit broadcast of the criminal trial of Zacarias Moussaoui. All applications to view the closed-circuit broadcast must be submitted and postmarked no later than June 20, 2003. For more information, contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office toll-free September 11 line at 1-866-828-1834.
DECEPTIVE TELEMARKETERS — The First Amendment does not block state Attorneys General from going after telemarketers who misrepresent themselves as worthy charities in order to mislead citizens into donating money, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled this week. The justices said the First Amendment protects fundraisers who don’t tell prospective contributors all the details about how their donations will be used — for example, how much of the contributions will be retained by the fundraisers and how much will actually go to the charitable cause. However, the court said, the telemarketers cannot actively lie or mislead in order to attract donors. The court ruled in an Illinois case in which a telemarketer, hired by a Vietnam veterans organization, told callers that a “significant” portion of donations would go to charitable purposes when in fact the telemarketer kept 85 percent of the contributions.
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