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A Florida appeals court has effectively opened a loophole in the state's long-standing law against recording telephone conversations without the permission of both sides of the call, ruling that law enforcement officers performing their official duties can be secretly recorded because they have no expectation of privacy.The court's decision — involving a citizen who accused the Citrus County Sheriff's Office of misconduct — is the latest to provide new mechanisms for civilian oversight of law enforcement, even as others were curtailed in recent days by Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Republican-led Legislature.
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A lawsuit filed by a Fort Myers man over the removal of weapons and ammunition, much of it antique, from his home by the Lee County Sheriff's Office in March 2020 claims there were violations of the state constitution as well as damage done to materials taken.The suit was filed by W. Alecs Dean March 29 in Lee County Court and seeks damages up to $100,000.
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Craig Kowalski has accepted the position of Chief of Police for Florida Gulf Coast University and will begin work officially on April 15.The acceptance was announced Thursday by David Vazquez, Vice President of Administrative Service and Finance.
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You've probably seen them parked in various spots around your area ... unmanned police units meant to be a word to the wise against speeding or other traffic infractions.Usual reactions, unless they've been previously seen in the same spot, are to initially hit the brakes ... and then motor on by when it's clear it's a "decoy."In this case, someone made a "comment" — on the car.
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Several Cape Coral schools were placed on lockdown Wednesday morning for several hours.Cape Coral High School, Heritage Charter Academy, Skyline Elementary, Challenger Middle School and Patriot Elementary were placed on lockdown as a precaution after a possible threat at the high school on Santa Barbara Boulevard South.All lockdowns were lifted shortly before 10:30 a.m.
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Open forums were scheduled for next week for the top three candidates for chief of the University Police Department at FGCU. One of the candidates has withdrawn their name.James Slapp, the UPD's current chief, will be retiring in May after a 45-year career in law enforcement.
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The Lee County Sheriff’s Office removed the ability to comment on some social media posts last year, something that's well within their right to do, but prompting some to wonder why.Instagram comments ceased on July 28 of last year, but it’s unknown when the same occurred on Facebook. Law enforcement and citizen perspectives varied on the lack of comment availability on the Sheriff's Office's social media sites.
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Several changes in state laws will take hold as 2024 begins, from an expansion of the state’s “move over” traffic law to stricter rules involving investments in Iran.Lawmakers during the 2023 regular legislative session and during special sessions approved five laws that will take effect in January. But the arrival of 2024 also will bring other changes, from new campsite reservation rules to the end of a program that provides credits to frequent toll-road users.
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The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office is celebrating its 20th year of Shop With A Cop in Charlotte County with two weeks of activities. The program began in 2004 in the wake of Hurricane Charley's destruction.
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Lee County deputies will be getting body cams, a cost of $2.5 million over 5 years, joining other SWFL law enforcement agencies that have been using them for years.