TALLAHASSEE, FL (WTXL) -- The Florida Department of Law Enforcement wants more investigators to handle a rise in officer-involved shootings in the state.
These cases have increased over 100 percent in the past five years, and investigators logged about 25,000 hours last year alone on these cases, according to the agency's legislative affairs director.
Lawmakers denied FDLE's 2015 request to hire 14 investigators specifically to look into shooting involving police officers.
Investigator Chris Daniels of the Midway Police Department says because his department is small, they don't always have all the resources to investigate these kinds of cases, so having FDLE help out gives them a more comprehensive look.
"It gives that third party coming in and giving an impartial and objective opinion to that investigation," Daniels said. "It just keeps things fair and objective. Also, FDLE would be able to...they tend to have more expertise in certain areas than a local agency would so that's also a benefit as well."
FDLE is working on a budget proposal for the 2016 legislative session that will include hiring more investigators. The agency is also looking to include a pay increase for its crime lab analysts in an effort to stop its high turnover rate and to keep its employees.
