TITUSVILLE, Fla. (WTXL) - One year after the Parkland school shooting, Governor Ron DeSantis is directing the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to develop a unified statewide strategy aimed at identifying and preventing acts of mass violence.
DeSantis sent a letter to FDLE Commissioner Rick Swearingen on Wednesday directing the agency to "prioritize the establishment of a threat analysis strategy" to identify and prevent acts of mass violence.
“Florida has experienced many senseless acts of mass violence over the last few years and it must end now,” said Governor DeSantis. “The acts at Pulse Nightclub, the Fort Lauderdale Airport, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, the Jacksonville Landing, the yoga studio in Tallahassee and just a few weeks ago, the SunTrust Bank in Sebring have all been avoidable tragedies. We live in a new era of policing as authorities now have analytical tools they can follow that will impede further violence.”
In the letter, DeSantis asks the department to focus on finding ways to help local law enforcement adopt a statewide threat assessment strategy. To accomplish this, FDLE will establish training in threat assessment techniques through the Criminal Justice Standards & Training Commission for law enforcement entities throughout the state.
In addition, FDLE will coordinate with local law enforcement, utilizing the Regional Domestic Security Task Forces to assist law enforcement and aide them in implementing their own threat assessment strategies.
He also asked that FDLE work with the Florida Department of Education to begin developing a central database and data analytics resources for school threat assessment teams.
DeSantis says its a priority for Florida to become a national leader in intelligence-led policing.
