Law and public safety

By Sarah Gonzalez – WLRN It’s been almost a month since self-appointed neighborhood watch captain George Zimmerman shot and killed Trayvon Martin — an unarmed black teenager.  Martin’s death has inspired a national debate about race and justice.  But at Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High School, where Trayvon Martin …

Ten Alachua County agencies and private partners came together today to simulate a mass casualty incident. As Florida’s 89.1, WUFT-FM’s Lauren Rautenkranz reports, the city of Gainesville used the mock drill to make sure agencies could practice what do do in a “real” emergency.  TV news clips provided by WUFT-TV. [audio:http://www.wuft.org/media/audio/FPmockdrilleditedLR.mp3] …

Governor Rick Scott placed his official stamp of approval on the random drug testing for state workers law. Florida’s 89.1, WUFT-FM’s Alyssa Averette reports on constitutional issue with this new law. [audio:http://www.wuft.org/media/audio/DrugTestingWrapAA.mp3] State employees may be subject to random drug testing by their employers under a new law that was passed last …

The media coverage of the Sanford teen shooting incident has blown up cable news headlines, newspaper pages and twitter feeds. Yet the shooting took place about three weeks ago. Florida’s 89.1, WUFT-FM’s Katiana Krawchenko spoke with Tampa Bay times TV and Media Critic. Eric Deggans about how the story became a hot …

The reporting on the Trayvon Martin case has had many news outlets issuing corrections to their story. Florida’s 89.1, WUFT-FM’s Chip Skambis spoke with University of Florida Levin College of Law Professor Lyrissa Lidsky about how the news coverage impacts whether or not justice is served in this case. [audio:http://www.wuft.org/media/audio/LidskyQAChipSkambis3202012.mp3]

Though Florida’s amping up its efforts to shut down pill mills prescription drug abuse may become more of problem starting next year. Florida’s 89.1, WUFT-FM’s Chip Skambis spoke with the Director of non-profit organization Narconon, Mary Reester, about the potential problems that could come when patent protection on Oxycontin expires next year. [audio:http://www.wuft.org/media/audio/ReesterQA.mp3]  

One more suspect in a large Marion County pill trafficking bust has been placed under arrest. WUFT-FM’s Lauren Rautenkranz says Operation “Blue Forest” brought an oxycodone operation near the Ocala National Forest to a halt. [audio:http://www.wuft.org/news/files/2012/03/LAURENVOICER.mp3]

Multi-agency drug enforcement action has resulted in arrest warrants for 43 suspects.  On March 12-13 the Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team, Multi Agency Drug Enforcement Team, Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Fifth Judicial Circuit of the State Attorney’s Office capped an 11 month investigation known as “Blue Forest”.  The …

With an extensive coastline and rural area to monitor, the Levy County Sheriff’s office has created an Agriculture/Marine Unit to deal with growing Agriculture related crime.  Levy County Sheriff’s Office Major Evan Sullivan says this position is something the Sheriff’s office has pushed consistently pushed for. [audio:http://www.wuft.org/news/files/2012/03/SULLIVAN4.mp3] This unit now …

Gainesville Police Department was notified today that a suspect in the Gainesville High School bomb threat has been arrested in Austin, Texas. The bomb threat was emailed Sunday to GPD. GPD Spokeswoman Corporal Angelina Valuri says the arrest was made yesterday in Austin. [audio:http://www.wuft.org/news/files/2012/03/FP-Valuri-1.mp3|titles=FP Valuri 1] Because the investigation is …