Florida Capitol Police
Encyclopedia
The Florida Capitol Police is a uniformed police department in Tallahassee
, Florida
, in charge of security
and law enforcement on the grounds of the Florida State Capitol
and various other state government
buildings.
and began service in 1973 as a plainclothes
security force created. Originally known as Legislative Security, it operated under the Florida Department of General Services (DGS).
The first director was Florida Highway Patrol
Captain Nathan Sharron, and the original administrative offices were in the Larson Building, with security operations office in a few small offices in the Senate Office Building. In 1973, Capitol Police employed 20 members, including security officers and a handful of plainclothes law enforcement officers, known as special agent
s. It had the only Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) bomb disposal
unit in the Big Bend area
.
In 1978, two years after the new Capitol building was completed, Legislative Security moved its operations and administrative offices into the new building.
In 1983, legislation changed the name from Legislative Security to the Division of Safety and Crime Prevention. The director being James McPherson, formerly of the State Beverage Agency. The uniformed police became more highly visible and members were assigned to various state buildings besides the Capitol. Responsibilities increased and included the Capitol Complex as a whole, state buildings, and state facilities in Miami
, Orlando
, Tampa
and 11 other cities known as Regional Service Centers.
In 1985, the Florida Legislature mandated that the Division of Safety and Crime Prevention provide training and safety courses to other state agencies at their request. They were also mandated to develop and conduct evacuation procedures for the Capitol.
During the early 1990s, the department became the Capitol Police. Director James McPherson retired in 1995 and was succeeded by COL Timothy Kerns as Director. Kerns retired in 1998 and Terry Meek, a former FDLE Special Agent, followed Kerns.
After the September 11 attacks, Governor Jeb Bush
placed Capitol Police under the direction of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement
(FDLE). The new Director became Scotty Sanderson, former FDLE Director of Mutual Aid. Security at the Capitol elevated and magnetometer
s and x-ray machine
s were used to screen all visitors and additional state law enforcement officers were assigned to the Capitol.
In 2002 the Florida Capitol Police were officially transferred to the FDLE as per House Bill 1407 http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=33607 with sworn law enforcement officers across the state relocated to Tallahassee. Today the primary responsibility of Capitol Police is to protect the security of the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor
, the members of the Florida Cabinet
, the members of the Florida Senate
the Florida House of Representatives
, and all employees assigned to assist such state officials in the performance of their official duties and provide security and protection for other state officials, employees and visitors to the Capitol Complex.
Tallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee is the capital of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat and only incorporated municipality in Leon County, and is the 128th largest city in the United States. Tallahassee became the capital of Florida, then the Florida Territory, in 1824. In 2010, the population recorded by...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, in charge of security
Security
Security is the degree of protection against danger, damage, loss, and crime. Security as a form of protection are structures and processes that provide or improve security as a condition. The Institute for Security and Open Methodologies in the OSSTMM 3 defines security as "a form of protection...
and law enforcement on the grounds of the Florida State Capitol
Florida State Capitol
The Florida State Capitol, in Tallahassee, Florida, USA, is the state capitol of the U.S. state of Florida. The building is an architecturally and historically significant building, having been listed on the National Register of Historic Places....
and various other state government
State governments of the United States
State governments in the United States are those republics formed by citizens in the jurisdiction thereof as provided by the United States Constitution; with the original 13 States forming the first Articles of Confederation, and later the aforementioned Constitution. Within the U.S...
buildings.
History
The Capitol Police was created by the Florida LegislatureFlorida Legislature
The Florida State Legislature is the term often used to refer to the two houses that act as the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The Florida Constitution states that "The legislative power of the state shall be vested in a legislature of the State of Florida," composed of a Senate...
and began service in 1973 as a plainclothes
Undercover
Being undercover is disguising one's own identity or using an assumed identity for the purposes of gaining the trust of an individual or organization to learn secret information or to gain the trust of targeted individuals in order to gain information or evidence...
security force created. Originally known as Legislative Security, it operated under the Florida Department of General Services (DGS).
The first director was Florida Highway Patrol
Florida Highway Patrol
The Division of the Florida Highway Patrol is a division of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and the law enforcement agency charged with ensuring the safety of the highways and roads of the state.-History:...
Captain Nathan Sharron, and the original administrative offices were in the Larson Building, with security operations office in a few small offices in the Senate Office Building. In 1973, Capitol Police employed 20 members, including security officers and a handful of plainclothes law enforcement officers, known as special agent
Special agent
Special agent is usually the title for a detective or investigator for a state, county, municipal, federal or tribal government. An agent is a worker for any federal agency, and a secret agent is one who works for an intelligence agency....
s. It had the only Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) bomb disposal
Bomb disposal
Bomb disposal is the process by which hazardous explosive devices are rendered safe. Bomb disposal is an all encompassing term to describe the separate, but interrelated functions in the following fields:*Military:...
unit in the Big Bend area
Big Bend (Florida)
The Big Bend of Florida, U.S.A., is an informal region of the state with no official surveyed boundary. It includes part of the counties of the Florida Panhandle. Geologists prefer to characterize Florida’s Big Bend as the drowned karst section of the coast that occurs between the mouth of the...
.
In 1978, two years after the new Capitol building was completed, Legislative Security moved its operations and administrative offices into the new building.
In 1983, legislation changed the name from Legislative Security to the Division of Safety and Crime Prevention. The director being James McPherson, formerly of the State Beverage Agency. The uniformed police became more highly visible and members were assigned to various state buildings besides the Capitol. Responsibilities increased and included the Capitol Complex as a whole, state buildings, and state facilities in Miami
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
, Orlando
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
, Tampa
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
and 11 other cities known as Regional Service Centers.
In 1985, the Florida Legislature mandated that the Division of Safety and Crime Prevention provide training and safety courses to other state agencies at their request. They were also mandated to develop and conduct evacuation procedures for the Capitol.
During the early 1990s, the department became the Capitol Police. Director James McPherson retired in 1995 and was succeeded by COL Timothy Kerns as Director. Kerns retired in 1998 and Terry Meek, a former FDLE Special Agent, followed Kerns.
After the September 11 attacks, Governor Jeb Bush
Jeb Bush
John Ellis "Jeb" Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd Governor of Florida from 1999 to 2007. He is a prominent member of the Bush family: the second son of former President George H. W. Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush; the younger brother of former President George W...
placed Capitol Police under the direction of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement
Florida Department of Law Enforcement
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is a Florida government agency. FDLE is composed of five programs: Executive Direction and Business Support, Criminal Investigations and Forensic Science, Criminal Justice Information, Criminal Justice Professionalism, and the Florida Capitol Police...
(FDLE). The new Director became Scotty Sanderson, former FDLE Director of Mutual Aid. Security at the Capitol elevated and magnetometer
Magnetometer
A magnetometer is a measuring instrument used to measure the strength or direction of a magnetic field either produced in the laboratory or existing in nature...
s and x-ray machine
X-ray machine
An X-ray generator is a device used to generate X-rays. These devices are commonly used by radiographers to acquire an x-ray image of the inside of an object but they are also used in sterilization or fluorescence....
s were used to screen all visitors and additional state law enforcement officers were assigned to the Capitol.
In 2002 the Florida Capitol Police were officially transferred to the FDLE as per House Bill 1407 http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=33607 with sworn law enforcement officers across the state relocated to Tallahassee. Today the primary responsibility of Capitol Police is to protect the security of the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant governor
A lieutenant governor or lieutenant-governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction, but is often the deputy or lieutenant to or ranking under a governor — a "second-in-command"...
, the members of the Florida Cabinet
Florida Cabinet
The Florida Cabinet is a body of the government of Florida that engages in the collective governance of the state.Created following Reconstruction, when there had been a widespread distrust of the governors appointed by the federal government, the cabinet was designed to decentralize authority from...
, the members of the Florida Senate
Florida Senate
The Florida Senate is the upper house of the Florida Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The Senate is composed of 40 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 470,032....
the Florida House of Representatives
Florida House of Representatives
The Florida House of Representatives is the lower house of the Florida Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The House is composed of 120 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 156,677.The House convenes at...
, and all employees assigned to assist such state officials in the performance of their official duties and provide security and protection for other state officials, employees and visitors to the Capitol Complex.
Mission statement
Units
Units of the Florida Capitol Police are:- Operations:
- Patrol - Units patrolling the Capitol Building, Holland Building, Pepper Building and the Capital Circle Office Center.
- Capitol Police Communications Section - Communications is on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and responsible for answering and initiating all calls for police and security services at the Capitol and other facilities within the Capitol Complex. Communications has seven full-time staff members and one supervisor.
- Directed Patrol Team - A six-member team which operates primarily from police bicyclePolice bicycleA Police bicycle is a land vehicle used by police departments, most commonly in the form of a mountain bicycle. They are designed to meet the requirements unique to each department....
s for image enhancement, providing accessibility of uniform police officers to the public. The team also reduces the opportunities for criminal activity by enforcement through proactive policing. Each bike is assigned to an officer as his/her primary mode of transportation. Team members must complete an approved mountain police cyclist course through International Police Mountain Bike Association. Duties are: Patrol Operations support, Special Operations support, response to calls for service, crime prevention and community involvement; crime prevention and fire safetyFire safetyFire safety refers to precautions that are taken to prevent or reduce the likelihood of a fire that may result in death, injury, or property damage, alert those in a structure to the presence of a fire in the event one occurs, better enable those threatened by a fire to survive, or to reduce the...
programs; bicycle safety education and awareness; and special events participation.
- Special Operations:
- Investigations - Investigations consists of one LieutenantLieutenantA lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
, two sworn investigators and one Government Analyst. The Investigative Team is responsible for all investigations that occur at the Capitol Complex. Duties include conducting extensive background checkBackground checkA background check or background investigation is the process of looking up and compiling criminal records, commercial records and financial records of an individual....
s on all Capitol Police applicants. Processing of evidence and property; identifying and interviewing suspectSuspectIn the parlance of criminal justice, a suspect is a known person suspected of committing a crime.Police and reporters often incorrectly use the word suspect when referring to the...
s and witnesses; and providing evidence to be presented for criminal prosecution. Work closely with other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to share intelligenceIntelligenceIntelligence has been defined in different ways, including the abilities for abstract thought, understanding, communication, reasoning, learning, planning, emotional intelligence and problem solving....
information and provide investigative assistance when necessary - Hazardous Devices - Created in 1974, it was the first squad in the North Florida area to become a fully equipped unit, the first to deploy a bomb robotRobotA robot is a mechanical or virtual intelligent agent that can perform tasks automatically or with guidance, typically by remote control. In practice a robot is usually an electro-mechanical machine that is guided by computer and electronic programming. Robots can be autonomous, semi-autonomous or...
, and the first to be accredited by the Federal Bureau of InvestigationFederal Bureau of InvestigationThe Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
s (FBI) Bomb Data Center. Members must pass FBI mandated physicalPhysical examinationPhysical examination or clinical examination is the process by which a doctor investigates the body of a patient for signs of disease. It generally follows the taking of the medical history — an account of the symptoms as experienced by the patient...
s, have a minimum of three years law enforcement experience and attend a five-week basic course at Redstone ArsenalRedstone ArsenalRedstone Arsenal is a United States Army base and a census-designated place adjacent to Huntsville in Madison County, Alabama, United States and is part of the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area...
, located in Huntsville, AlabamaHuntsville, AlabamaHuntsville is a city located primarily in Madison County in the central part of the far northern region of the U.S. state of Alabama. Huntsville is the county seat of Madison County. The city extends west into neighboring Limestone County. Huntsville's population was 180,105 as of the 2010 Census....
. Due to current terrorism trends and the potential for the use of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), members must also maintain certification as a Hazardous Materials Technician. The team uses specialized equipment such as portable X-rayX-rayX-radiation is a form of electromagnetic radiation. X-rays have a wavelength in the range of 0.01 to 10 nanometers, corresponding to frequencies in the range 30 petahertz to 30 exahertz and energies in the range 120 eV to 120 keV. They are shorter in wavelength than UV rays and longer than gamma...
s, bomb suits, disrupters and robotRobotA robot is a mechanical or virtual intelligent agent that can perform tasks automatically or with guidance, typically by remote control. In practice a robot is usually an electro-mechanical machine that is guided by computer and electronic programming. Robots can be autonomous, semi-autonomous or...
s. The Capitol Police Hazardous Devices Unit is part of the Big Bend Regional Bomb Squad along with Tallahassee Police DepartmentTallahassee Police DepartmentThe Tallahassee Police Department , provides public safety services for the city of Tallahassee, Florida.-History:Established in 1841, the Tallahassee Police Department has the distinction of being the oldest police department in the southern United States, and the third in the U.S., preceded only...
and Leon County Sheriff's Office, covering the 13 counties in the North Florida Regional Domestic Security Task Force. - K-9 - The K-9 unitPolice dogA police dog, often referred to as a "K-9 dog" in some areas , is a dog that is trained specifically to assist police and other law-enforcement personnel in their work...
has two explosive detection canineDetection dogA detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to and works at using its senses to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, or blood. Hunting dogs that search for game and search dogs that search for missing humans are generally not considered detection dogs...
teams using the Labrador RetrieverLabrador RetrieverThe Labrador Retriever is one of several kinds of retriever, a type of gun dog. A breed characteristic is webbed paws for swimming, useful for the breed's original purpose of retrieving fishing nets. The Labrador is the most popular breed of dog by registered ownership in Canada, the United...
and are used to aid Capitol Police in maintaining a safe and secure environment for elected officials, state employees and visitors to the Capitol Complex These teams assist in deterring and preventing any possible terrorist acts in and around the Capitol Complex and conduct checks of vehicleVehicleA vehicle is a device that is designed or used to transport people or cargo. Most often vehicles are manufactured, such as bicycles, cars, motorcycles, trains, ships, boats, and aircraft....
s attempting to make deliveries to occupants, checking packages and items being brought into the Capitol Complex through various established checkpoints.
- Investigations - Investigations consists of one Lieutenant
- Special Assignments
- Critical Incident Team - Created in August 2003, the five-member Critical Incident Team (CIT) bridges the gap between the occurrence of a critical incident and arrival of the Leon County Sheriff's OfficeLeon County, Florida Sheriff's OfficeThe Leon County Sheriff's Office is the chief law enforcement entity for Leon County, Florida, USA.-Command staff:The command staff of the Leon County Sheriff's Office includes:...
SWATSWATA SWAT team is an elite tactical unit in various national law enforcement departments. They are trained to perform high-risk operations that fall outside of the abilities of regular officers...
Team. Members have extensive training in responding to any critical incident at the Capitol Complex and participates in joint exercises with the Leon County Sheriff's Office and Tallahassee Police Department simulating hostageHostageA hostage is a person or entity which is held by a captor. The original definition meant that this was handed over by one of two belligerent parties to the other or seized as security for the carrying out of an agreement, or as a preventive measure against certain acts of war...
and active shooterActive shooterAn active shooter is defined as "... an armed person who has used deadly physical force on other persons and continues to do so while having unrestricted access to additional victims."...
scenarioScenarioA scenario is a synoptical collage of an event or series of actions and events. In the Commedia dell'arte it was an outline of entrances, exits, and action describing the plot of a play that was literally pinned to the back of the scenery...
s - Protective Operation Section - Comprising 8 members, the POS provides protective services to members of either of the houses of the Legislature, upon the request of the respective presiding officer. POS team members often train with the Governor's detail to remain current on protective operations and dignitaryVery Important PersonA Very Important Person, or VIP is a person who is accorded special privileges due to his or her status or importance.Examples include celebrities, heads of state/heads of government, major employers, high rollers, politicians, high-level corporate officers, wealthy individuals, or any other...
protection methods. - Honor Guard - The Honor GuardHonor guardAn honor guard, or ceremonial guard, is a ceremonial unit, usually military in nature and composed of volunteers who are carefully screened for their physical ability and dexterity...
consists of four officers and one SergeantSergeantSergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
charged with displaying the patriotic colors and adding an air of solemnity at officers and families police funerals, parades, and other ceremonial occasions. They participate in opening of the annual Governor's Prayer Breakfast, opening of the annual Crime Victim's Rights Week, opening of the annual Missing Children's ceremony, FOP Law Enforcement Memorial Service, Springtime TallahasseeSpringtime TallahasseeSpringtime Tallahassee is an annual event held on the first Saturday in April in Tallahassee, Florida, USA celebrating Tallahassee's history and culture.- History :...
Parade, Dedications of streets or monuments for fallen officers, graduation Ceremony for Graduating Law Enforcement Officers from the Police Academy.
- Critical Incident Team - Created in August 2003, the five-member Critical Incident Team (CIT) bridges the gap between the occurrence of a critical incident and arrival of the Leon County Sheriff's Office
See also
- List of law enforcement agencies in Florida
- Capitol policeCapitol policeCapitol police in the United States are agencies charged with the provision of security police services for various state agencies, but especially State Legislatures. Capitol police may function as part of the state police or may be an independent agency...