History
The Capitol Police was created by the Florida Legislature and began service in 1973 as a plainclothes security force created. Originally known as Legislative Security, it operated under the Florida Department of General Services (DGS).
The first director was Florida Highway Patrol Captain Nathan Sharron, and the original administrative offices were in the Larson Building, with security operations office in a few small offices in the Senate Office Building. In 1973, Capitol Police employed 20 members, including security officers and a handful of plainclothes law enforcement officers, known as special agents. It had the only Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) bomb disposal unit in the Big Bend area.
In 1978, two years after the new Capitol building was completed, Legislative Security moved its operations and administrative offices into the new building.
In 1983, legislation changed the name from Legislative Security to the Division of Safety and Crime Prevention. The director being James McPherson, formerly of the State Beverage Agency. The uniformed police became more highly visible and members were assigned to various state buildings besides the Capitol. Responsibilities increased and included the Capitol Complex as a whole, state buildings, and state facilities in Miami, Orlando, Tampa and 11 other cities known as Regional Service Centers.
In 1985, the Florida Legislature mandated that the Division of Safety and Crime Prevention provide training and safety courses to other state agencies at their request. They were also mandated to develop and conduct evacuation procedures for the Capitol.
During the early 1990s, the department became the Capitol Police. Director James McPherson retired in 1995 and was succeeded by COL Timothy Kerns as Director. Kerns retired in 1998 and Terry Meek, a former FDLE Special Agent, followed Kerns.
After the September 11 attacks, Governor Jeb Bush placed Capitol Police under the direction of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). The new Director became Scotty Sanderson, former FDLE Director of Mutual Aid. Security at the Capitol elevated and magnetometers and x-ray machines were used to screen all visitors and additional state law enforcement officers were assigned to the Capitol.
In 2002 the Florida Capitol Police were officially transferred to the FDLE as per House Bill 1407 with sworn law enforcement officers across the state relocated to Tallahassee. Today the primary responsibility of Capitol Police is to protect the security of the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the members of the Florida Cabinet, the members of the Florida Senate the Florida House of Representatives, and all employees assigned to assist such state officials in the performance of their official duties and provide security and protection for other state officials, employees and visitors to the Capitol Complex.
Read more about this topic: Florida Capitol Police
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