Is the Volusia County Department of Public Protection (VCDPP) violating Florida Public Record Laws? In doing so are they putting public safety officers lives in danger? We ask you to read and decide for yourself.
Updated September 22, 2010
“All men have equal rights to liberty, to their property, and to the protection of the laws.”- Voltaire
Recently, a local newspaper reported an incident whereas a Tomoka Correctional Officer was arrested for the charge of introducing drugs into the local State prison. This article stated that this correctional officer's photo was not available to be reviewed on the Volusia County Mug shot website due to the fact that it was county policy not to publish photos of law enforcement officers and correctional officer that had been arrest as to not put the officer's safety in jeopardy.
VolusiaExposed.Com requested a copy of this "county policy". Recently we were advised via an email from a Volusia County official that Volusia County does not have such a policy, but rather that Florida State Law (Florida Statute Chapter 119) apparently forbids the publication of a current or former officer's photo.
It is of interest how Volusia County appears to "pick and choose" which officers photos they will not publish on their mug shot website. In by doing so, is not Volusia County "picking and choosing" when they will comply with Florida State law? Recently, several law enforcement members of the Volusia County Beach Patrol (VCBP) were arrested under numerous charges, some were accused of engaging in underage sex (rape). Below, we have linked our Volusia Beach Patrol Sex Scandal web page - we challenge our readers to locate any one of these officer's mug shots on the Volusia County Mug shot site. We feel confident that not one of these VCBP officers mug shot are available for viewing.
It is of further interest that VolusiaExposed.Com has discovered at least three former and current officers of the Volusia County Department of Public Protection that ARE listed on the Volusia County Mug shot website. Apparently Florida Statute 119 is very clear that no current OR former law enforcement / correctional officer photo will be posted. So, why are some posted and some not?
We make note that the VCBP Sex Scandal has caused a federal lawsuit to be filed against Volusia County. Is it possible that these sex scandal officers are not posted in support of a Volusia County Government agenda? Then again, maybe the officers that are listed in apparent violation of Florida Law are targets of retaliation by Volusia County officials? It hard to tell at this point in time, but VolusiaExposed will keep researching this situation in an attempt to gain some clarity on this developing situation.
Could it be that certain officers are receiving "special treatment"? Recently, the local media accused the Volusia County Jail of giving an arrested Daytona Beach Fire Fighter special treatment by releasing him out the back door of the jail so that he could apparently avoid waiting reporters. Interesting, the fire fighter was also charged with rape.
SPECIAL TREATMENT appears to be a common theme within the Volusia County Department of Public Protection. The media apparently has accused the jail of giving a Daytona Beach Fire Fighter special treatment. - VolusiaExposed.Com has questioned whether the Volusia County Sheriff Department has manipulated death investigations within the jail to possibly reduce civil liability in those deaths. - VolusiaExposed.Com has also questioned whether certain officer(s) that were caught introducing contraband (to include drugs) into the jail were given special treatment by not having criminal charges filed against them. - VolusiaExposed.Com has questioned whether a correctional officer that worker for approximately 20 years as a "unknown" convicted felon received "Special Treatment" by jail officials - What such done to help reduce the embarrassment of having a felon work as a correctional officer for over 20 years?
We invite you to read the email traffic we had with Volusia County officials in regards to the Mug shot website. We ask you, as the individual reader to decide for yourself if certain persons have recieved special treatment. Whether our law enforcement personnel are with purpose violating our State Laws (whether posting officer mug shots or blurring fact in death investigations, etc.). Whether the Volusia County Public is being well served by our government officials.