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Posted on Wed, May. 03, 2006email thisprint
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LAW ENFORCEMENT
Interim chief named to head FDLE: The
inspector general of the state Lottery Department has been appointed
interim commissioner of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
BY BRENT KALLESTAD
Associated Press
TALLAHASSEE - A veteran Florida law enforcement
officer who has worked in two earlier Republican administrations was
chosen Tuesday by Gov. Jeb Bush and the Cabinet as the interim
commissioner of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Jerry Bailey replaces Guy Tunnell, who resigned
last month after criticism of his personal involvement in the
investigation of a teenager's death. Martin Lee Anderson, 14, had
been roughed up by guards at a Panama City juvenile boot camp
founded by Tunnell when he was Bay County sheriff.
Bailey, who will earn $125,000 annually in his
new role, said he planned no changes in personnel and didn't comment
on his predecessor, who sent e-mails to the current Bay County
sheriff knocking those who questioned the effectiveness of
military-style boot camps.
Tunnell also compared the Rev. Jesse Jackson to
outlaw Jesse James and U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., to terrorist
Osama bin Laden at an agency meeting preparing for protests at the
Capitol over Anderson's death. FDLE was removed from the state
investigation into the boy's death, which is still under way.
''I'm really not familiar enough with the
difficulties that Commissioner Tunnell went through to comment on
it,'' Bailey, 59, said.
Bailey has served as the inspector general of
the state Lottery Department since 1999.
He has more than 30 years of law enforcement
and investigative experience, including service as FDLE's deputy
executive director and head of its criminal investigation and crime
laboratories.
''I'm confident Jerry's professionalism will
serve our state well,'' Bush said. ``Jerry's wealth of experience in
the law enforcement arena will serve as a great foundation for his
leadership of FDLE.''
The selection criteria for a permanent
department head will be prepared shortly.
''I am not going to campaign for the permanent
position,'' Bailey said. ``Right now my emphasis is on going in and
running that agency.''
Bailey began his career as a North Carolina
state trooper. He started his FDLE career in 1970 when the agency
was in its infancy.
He left the state's employment for six years to
run a printing business but returned in 1987 and joined newly
elected Republican Gov. Bob Martinez.
He returned to FDLE in 1988 before leaving for
the lottery position in 1999.
FDLE has nearly 2,000 employees at its capital
headquarters, seven regional operation centers, 15 field offices and
seven crime laboratories where it provides investigative, forensic
and information systems services for law enforcement agencies across
the state.
''It's a big challenge,'' Bailey said. ``A lot
of programs, and we've got hurricane season coming.''
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