There is one thing that prosecutors and criminal defense attorneys can readily agree upon...that when comparing the quality of police investigations and professionalism, the Pinellas County Sheriff Office stands at the top of local law enforcement agencies. You will hear regular complaints about the politics and questionable competency of our smaller "Andy of Mayberry" type police departments. But, when a modest sized municipality ultimately grows tired of the incompetency of their local police department, it is the PCSO their elected officials then contract with to provide law enforcement services for their citizens. (See: "It May Be Time to Disband Kenneth City Police.)
Local Municipalities Close Poorly Run Police Departments
Over the last few years, we have seen eleven municipalities fire their police chief, disband their entire police department and look to Sheriff Jim Coats to take over the reins. The following list represents each town and the amount each municipality pays to the PCSO to provide for police protection:
Belleair Beach & Belleair Shores: $447,370
Belleair Bluffs: $447,500
Dunedin: $3,585,130
Indian Rocks Beach: $852,380
Madeira Beach: $935,100
North Redington Beach: $223,810
Oldsmar: $1,477,600
Redington Beach: $223,680
Safety Harbor: $1,264,940
Seminole: $1,716,410
South Pasadena: $711,990
Jim Coats has done a good job managing an operation that continues to grow in a geographical sense. This growth of course, comes with commensurate increased responsibilities and oversight. In 2010-2011, Sheriff Coats prowess in fiscal matters was proven when his spending was determined to be under budget in 53 of the 76 “sections” of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. Likewise, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office saved in excess of $56 million from having inmates sentenced to alternative programs other than incarceration within the County Jail. These programs included electronic ankle bracelet monitoring and the day-reporting (Parks) program. (See: "Alternatives to Straight Jail Time.")
Pinellas Sheriff Told to Cut Spending
Each year since the economic decline, Jim Coates has been forced to deal with repeated County Commission demands to cut his budget. Coates has understandably been quite vocal about his concern that the continued reduction of law enforcement funding is compromising the safety of both the public and his deputies on the street.
Examining the New PCSO Budget - What We Found
Our office closely reviewed the recently released, eight-six page PCSO proposed budget drafted by Coats for his submission to the Pinellas County Commission. We first checked Sheriff Coat's compensation and learned that he wisely did not provide for a raise or any cost of living increase to his salary.
Next, we looked at Pinellas DUI enforcement and learned that Coats still has not budgeted any funds towards a “DUI Division.” (The PCSO DUI Squad was disbanded several years ago.) The budget for the “Crimes Against Children” section of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office had been cut by 10% and the “Community Education and Programs” section had its funding cut by 50%.
Slashing costs across the board in a difficult economic environment is somewhat understandable. Declining property values have translated into dwindling property tax revenues. As the old saying goes "you can't squeeze water from a stone." Nevertheless, we question Jim Coat's budgetary decision to cut spending in the narcotics division. Although proposed cuts in the narcotics department were far less than other areas, ( only 1%), this is an area inappropriate for any form of cut-back. In fact, it is sorely in need of a dramatic infusion of monetary assistance.
Pinellas Narcotics Division Likely to Be Overwhelmed & Understaffed
The prescription drug abuse epidemic has resulted in a trickle down increase in burglary, grand theft and dealing in stolen property related offenses that are committed by perpetrators attempting to support the high cost of their addiction. Narcotics detectives in St. Petersburg, Clearwater and other areas of Pinellas county tell us that they are already overwhelmed by the current number of pill mills, drug trafficking, prescription fraud, doctor shopping and felony drug possession offenses. The highly addictive nature of oxycodone and other prescription pain pills already claims the lives of seven Floridians each day.
By the end of this summer, the much delayed prescription drug monitoring program database is scheduled for activation. Once this program goes online, we predict that it will enormously increase the detection of doctor shopping and attempts to obtain prescription medication by fraud. Whereas before, these cases generally came to the attention of law enforcement when a sharp minded pharmacist detected some form of irregularity in the presentation of a prescription or questionable behavior when a purported doctor's office "phoned in " a prescription. One simply cannot envision the sheer number of illicit instances currently going undetected. But, all that will change with the automation and oversight of a sophisticated computer database designed to cross-check, validate and flag unusual prescription transactions.
Unless Jim Coats has a hidden "playing card up his sleeve," we believe that the prescription drug monitoring program will create havoc with his well intentioned budgetary plans.
Have You or a Relative Been Arrested for a Drug Offense?
Call a local Pinellas County criminal defense attorney with a background and experience in this area of the law. We can discuss possible remedies to get the charge dismissed through diversion programs, or avoiding conviction through a withhold of adjudication.
Free consultation: (727) 578-0303
Visit our Helpful Criminal Defense website at: www.defensehelp.com
Visit our Pinellas Drunk Driving site at: www.duistpetersburglawyer.com
Related Links:
Kenneth City Police Considers Disbanding Police Department
Pinellas Sheriff Hits Targets For Cuts
Generic Oxycodone Likely to Fuel the Pain Pill Epidemic
Pinellas Sheriff Warns of Further Budget Cuts
Prescription Drug Database...Delayed Once Again
Getting Your Pinellas Drug Possession Charge Dismissed
Pinellas County Drug Court
Avoiding Conviction Through a Withhold of Adjudication
The county claims Pinellas is unable to balance the budget without making cuts in the Sheriffs Office reducing service and protection to the public who live in the unincorporated areas of Pinellas county, putting us all at risk. Pinellas county also claims to need to charge a fee to enter parks like Fort Desoto to balance the budget. I find this difficult to believe, I checked the web sight “Who’s on your payroll” I have discovered that the Tax Collector is handing out our tax dollars that are suppose to pay for these service in rises for Exempt employees, there is suppose to be no pay rises for county employees since 2007 to balance to budget. Case in point and feel free to check it for yourselfs, [NAME REDACTED] in 2008 he made $82,500.00 by 2009 he made $83,512.00 in 2010 it was $88,504.00 and now he makes $93,496.00. How do you account for this? No pay rises are no pay rises, right? or are their a double standard between Classified and Exempt employees? Stop this backdoor abuse of our tax dollars.
(This post edited by blog administrator.)
Posted by: LANCE O BATES | June 08, 2011 at 06:52 PM
It is a tough time for every career, including law enforcement careers in this economy.
Posted by: Trent | June 07, 2011 at 01:56 PM