Thanks to two county coordinators in Hernando County, some improvements were made to the ordinance that was passed this past January. But unfortunately, the sheriff’s office was still using the originally-passed ordinance that did not contain the new language for the revised ordinance passed in July.
Another member in Hernando County set out to right this wrong once he saw that the sheriff’s office was handing out copies of the January ordinance rather than the revised one.
He first went to the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office to meet with detectives concerning the old no-longer-approved January ordinance their office was handing out and the newly-passed July ordinance. Since he received a link in an email for the newer ordinance and had printed it out, the sheriff’s office did not trust the copy he gave them. The officials looked up the ordinance on Municode.com, and, of course, it was the original ordinance passed in January which was no longer valid. (Strange that they use Municode.com for their only source of authenticity.)
Our member then went to the Hernando County Clerk of Court Office to ask for a certified copy of the new ordinance. The employee at the clerk’s office was helpful in providing a stamped and certified copy of the ordinance identical to the one our member had previously shown to the Hernando County detectives.
When asked by our member why the sheriff’s office and Municode did not have a copy of the most recent ordinance, he was told that Municode only updates quarterly. Again, it is strange that a sheriff’s office would use Municode for its only source of verification.
Our member was then sent to the Hernando County Attorney’s Office to request that the sheriff be updated on the ordinance. This office denied his request. Prior to denying said request, the county attorney’s office informed our member that the sheriff’s office already knew about the changes as it was the sheriff’s office that requested the ordinance be reviewed. After our member informed the county attorney that he would be going to the state attorney’s office to file a complaint along with filing a suit in the Florida Circuit Court against them for refusing to correct an illegal directive by the HCSO, the county attorney’s office decided to forward a copy of the new ordinance to HCSO. It is unknown whether the county attorney’s office forwarded the copy or was simply trying to placate our member.
Additionally, our member hand delivered the updated version to HCSO by the end of the week.
As of this time it is unknown whether the HCSO is still handing out the incorrect information which said that people must now pay to register and that signs must be placed in the yards of registrants on Halloween, along with the vague language for other parts of the ordinance. Our member is waiting to see if the sheriff’s office has complied with the latest approved ordinance.
All of us at Florida Action Committee appreciate this individual standing up for the rights of all registrants in Hernando County.
Even though some improvements have been made to the ordinance as a result of the work of three of our members in Hernando County, there is nothing about the final ordinance that is good or fair.
I live in Hernando County, how can I get in touch with my local coordinators?
I will be sending the info to you.
You can email your FAC Hernando Coordinators at [email protected] or call 352-606-0187.
If you are not on probation, a court already ruled placing signs and bumper stickers on registrant’s house or cars, is compelled speech. Of course, we already know that law enforcement often makes up their own laws, rules and regulations based on what mood they are in at any given time.
When I worked in law enforcement, the two different groups I remember most, were the cops who were corrupt, and those who treated myself and the public with respect. The in betweens were forgettable so I barely remember them.
Remember SCOTUS said LE can lie and not be truthful to carry out their duties. Frazier v. Cupp, 394 U.S. 731 (1969)
@TS
But I do not think, giving correct registry laws, rules and ordinances were what they were thinking of at the time. I know for example when I was in law enforcement, the guys (And occasionally the females) would pretend to be drug dealers (Lying about who you are) to catch people buying and selling drugs.
We on the other hand, mostly are law abiding citizens. Why lie to us to get us re-arrested. The cops sure as hell are not going to admit in court that they gave us onerous information.
Just goes to show who the real criminals are.
Not the only county in the United States where the Sheriff or even other authorities that choose to ignore the law and know that even caught their immunity protects their actions as protecting the public. For example arresting every registered person in the area every time someone goes missing. The ’round ups’ were outlaw by the government. Just as some states don’t recognize the authority of SCOTUS rulings as ‘Law of the Land.’
Hats off to this member!!! Activism by a true warrior for fairness and decency!!!!!!
Yes! Hats off to this brave member!!!
Thank you!!