June, 2009

                     "The Year in Review"

To all my fellow FPCA Members and Colleagues,

As the end of my presidency draws near, it is appropriate that I recap what has transpired over the last fifteen months and what our experience during this time suggests we may expect and encounter as we move forward.

We are all aware that it has been a very busy and active year for the Association. In the fall of last year as we prepared for high profile participation at the 2009 legislative session, little did we know that our plans would have to be implemented three months sooner because a special legislative session was convened on January 5 to address a 2.8 billion dollar State budget shortfall.

Among the many critical issues facing law enforcement in this session were major cuts to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement budget and cuts to the non-recurring funding of the Juvenile Assessment Centers. Since these issues created severe direct and indirect impacts on our departments, the FPCA took the role of advocate for these agencies. In addition to writing a series of letters opposing the proposed cuts for these agencies to the Governor and legislators, we were able to schedule an entourage of Chiefs during special session to be seen and heard in the halls of the Capitol regarding the support of these crucial law enforcement services.

Even though FDLE experienced a 5% reduction in their 2008-2009 budget from reductions during the year and at this session, Commissioner Bailey's skillful fiscal adjustments in anticipation of the shortfall diminished the impact to overall law enforcement operations. The Juvenile Assessment Centers were able to maintain their funding. The cuts made during the regular session in March however, had further impact to these budgets for next year which I will explain later.

As a result of our involvement and correspondence last fall relating to budgetary and legislative issues, we were invited to meet with the Governor's staff to express our concerns. This meeting was most important because it afforded us an opportunity to present our positions on ongoing and burgeoning issues face to face followed up by written correspondence to the Governor and Legislators. We subsequently have been meeting on a bimonthly basis. We are grateful to Lori Sellers Rowe, Randy Ball and Michael Mancuso from the Governor's staff for participating in this vital exchange of information.

As the regular legislative session approached, our Association was inundated with requests from associations, agencies and interested groups to support a myriad of positions regarding legislation and budgets. At last count, we were well over eighty such requests.

During the March legislative session, we were challenged not only with legislative issues but with ongoing budgetary shortfalls as well. While we continued our outspoken support for FDLE and the Juvenile Assessment Centers, many significant legislative issues surfaced. New and amended Bills encompassing such matters as First Responder Services, 911 Emergency Dispatcher Service, Confidential Informants, Legal Jurisdiction of Campus Police, DNA Databases, Asset Forfeitures and the Law Enforcement Officers and Correctional Officers Bill of Rights just to mention a few were the most significant. Many hours of discussion, meetings and correspondence went into all of these issues. Many of our efforts were successful, some were not.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement ultimately suffered a 3% funding reduction with the passage of the 2009-2010 budget. Because of the surgical manner in which Commissioner Bailey addressed the cuts, law enforcement operations will be minimally affected. Although thirteen field offices are slated to close, the agent positions will not be lost. In our last meeting with the Governor's staff, we were told that there is a move afoot to find State offices for the agents. We offered our Association's assistance to make a concerted effort among our members to find space.

Otherwise, lab and investigative services are intact. This is quite remarkable considering the depth of the cuts. The department was initially asked by the legislature to identify areas for budget reductions as high as 10% followed by an additional 5% legislative request as session approached. Although the 7.6 million dollars cut from the 2009-2010 budget was indeed significant, especially on the heels of the previous year reduction, we are nonetheless thankful that the additional 12% cuts were not realized.

The Juvenile Assessment Centers were affected as well. Three million of their 6.9 million dollar budget is non-recurring funding. Only half of the non-recurring funding was restored. As a result, funds will be cut to some of the lesser volume centers. While this is not good news, it is better than the initial proposal of closing all the centers.

There were many other matters that transpired as the Association maintained business as usual during this tumultuous time. It seemed that Amy, Kay and Tammy barely had enough time to breathe between all the aforementioned activities coupled with day to day responsibilities and having to prepare for the conferences. I cannot thank these wonderful ladies enough for their dedication to their duties and for the professionalism with which they represent our Association every day. They also deserve kudos for the diplomatic manner in which they interact with the rare but sometime trying member.

Operationally, the Association continues to provide outstanding comprehensive training at our great conferences. We have also partnered with Florida State University to deliver Domestic Violence Awareness training for all of our officers. This year, revisions to the Code of Ethics and By-Laws will be voted on by the membership at the Summer Conference. These revisions were necessary adjustments to the Association rules as we expand our programs and membership and settle into the 21st Century.

In all, it has been a challenging year for our Association but remember our work is nowhere near finished and as each year renews, so do our many challenges. For those who have taken an active role, I thank you. For those who have not, I ask for just a little of your valuable time for the Association. You will find the experience to be enlightening and rewarding.

There are so many of our members to thank for stepping up and contributing their time and expertise in furtherance of our mission. I want to thank the Members and Chairs of all of our committees, who have been so very valuable in guiding the direction of the numerous programs and initiatives of our Association.

I also sincerely thank each of the members that made the journey to Tallahassee during the sessions to ensure that our legislators and other groups understood our interest and concern for what was transpiring. There were also many Chiefs that took the time to write letters in support of various Association positions to their local legislators to let those law makers hear the voices of a broad base of our membership.

I must also recognize our legislative representative Frank Mayernick who took significant time to guide our Chiefs through the maze of offices at the Capitol and make our orientation easier and presentations more effective. Frank was on top of all the Bills affecting our organization and was most helpful in ensuring that our responses were timely and on point. You should all know that he took a couple "on the chin" and in a few other places for our Association as well.

And last but certainly not least, my sincere thanks to the Board of Directors and Executive Board. If the Association's life's blood is the membership, the Board of Directors and Executive Board is the heart. Thank you all for representing the diverse opinions yet unified voice of all of our members from the seventeen districts throughout the State. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and expertise in the many decisions that this Association was faced with over the last year. It has been my pleasure to serve with you and my privilege to serve the entire membership of this outstanding organization. God bless each and every one of you and the Florida Police Chiefs Association.

Chief Gerald Monahan