Chief Larry Mathieson, FPCA 3rd VP is currently coordinating efforts to incorporate a block of instruction into the existing new Chief's Training in Tallahassee. This FDLE sponsored training will involve the Florida League of Cities and The City Manager's Association. The plan is for City Managers to design and deliver a block of very important information for both current and prospective Police Chiefs from the City Governments point of view. Some of the instruction points will include the recruitment and hiring of police chiefs and many of the relational issues that are significant between City Manager and their Police Chief.

FPCA has initiated this effort and received very favorable reception from both FDLE and City Managers in terms of committing resources to develop this instruction for us. Larry will keep our membership informed of the development of this project-this one should be a winner for our membership!

Chief Nolan McLeod, Chair of our Police Officer of the Year and Rocky Pomerance Excellence in Policing Committee is very busy with his committee preparing for the presentation of these esteemed awards at our upcoming Summer Conference in Panama City In June. As most of you know your FPCA established the Lee McGehee Police Officer of the Year Award in 1998, named after our beloved late Chief Lee McGehee. This Award has honored deserving law enforcement officers from small, medium, and large agencies throughout our state. Nolan is pleased to report that both the quantity and quality of nominations this year reassure us that law enforcement in the State of Florida is in good hands. We are reminded that these nominations represent an example of what is good in our profession.

Lastly, Chief Al Hogle, Chairman of our Legislative Committee with much help from active members of his Committee, have been very engaged both before and during the Legislative Session in Tallahassee, which commenced on March 2nd. Of the many FPCA Legislative Priorities, Al has brought two updates to you for this article. The first is HB 11 regarding Retention of Vehicles Title Documents. This bill has already passed one house of the Legislature while its companion bill SB 314, is moving nicely through committees. The other legislation of note is the Highway Safety Package Bills regarding admissibility of traffic citations in evidence. Both the house version PCB TR 04 03 and SB 1526 are also moving smoothly through both the House and Senate.

As a last reminder, through much coordination between FPCA, Tallahassee PD Staff, and our Legislative Committee, Florida Chiefs and Sheriffs are once again holding a Legislative Breakfast on Tuesday April 13th, at the Capitol Building in Tallahassee with the support of our corporate sponsor Nextel. We would appreciate our Police Chiefs attending the breakfast in uniform and enjoy the fellowship to help advance the FPCA legislative agenda.

On behalf of our Association, we want to recognize and thank Sgt. David Folsom of The Tallahassee Police Department for his invaluable and tireless assistance throughout the l egislative process-we could not do this without you David, thanks.

Hope to see many of you in Tallahassee!

Chief Paul Rumbley