Week In Review

This weekend marks the 27th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, and I am urging Floridians to help us fight addiction by disposing of any unused and expired prescription medications.
Our nation is still in the midst of a deadly opioid crisis—as more than 100,000 people die from drug…

This week, as Floridians continue to recover from Hurricane Milton, we warned about various scams that could arise in the aftermath of the storm.
In times of hardship, generous Floridians may desire to give to charity relief efforts, but this is when scammers can strike. Be cautious when…

This week, we called on Congress to pass legislation ensuring car manufacturers keep AM radios in new cars so citizens can receive important reports in the event of a natural disaster or emergency.
Last week, Helene made landfall as a Category 4 storm, leaving unimaginable damage along our…

This week, we continued our Thin Line Tribute: Sunshine Salute Series by recognizing a Clay County Sheriff’s Deputy who fled the chaos in California to serve in the most pro-law enforcement state in the nation.
Deputy Colton Harris, originally from Oakland, California, spoke to us about…

This week, we urged Floridians to be ready to weather any major storm in recognition of National Preparedness Month. September is also traditionally the most active time of the hurricane season, with the peak day being on September 10.
Disasters can occur without much warning. With…

This week, we presented Back the Blue Awards to eight members of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department for saving the life of a seven-month-old infant suffering from a fentanyl overdose.
Our first responders are the front-line defenders in the…

This week, I was thrilled to announce that Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd will be our keynote speaker for the 2024 Human Trafficking Summit.
Sheriff Judd has served as Polk County’s sheriff for nearly 20 years, leading several successful sting operations to take down human trafficking…

This week, in light of National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day, we warned Floridians about the dangers of drug use. According to a report, law enforcement seized more than 115 million counterfeit prescription pills containing illicit fentanyl in 2023. To keep Floridians informed about the…

This week, we warned parents and children about the alarming increase in teen drug overdoses as millions of kids across Florida headed back to school.
A study from the New England Journal of Medicine revealed that about 22 teens die each week nationwide to drug overdoses—which is about the…

This week, Hurricane Debby made landfall near Steinhatchee in North Florida and impacted millions of Floridians throughout our state.
Debby brought catastrophic storm surge along Florida’s west coast, resulting in high levels of flooding.
As the recovery process from Hurricane Debby…

This week, as millions of Florida students prepare for another academic year, we honored the school resource officers who protect them with a Thin Line Tribute. Our Thin Line Tribute initiative recognizes the daily, often thankless efforts, of Florida’s front-line law enforcement officers—and…

This week, I addressed the first graduating class of Florida’s law enforcement Mental Health Certificate at St. Petersburg College. The 14 graduates, comprised of law enforcement officers from the Clearwater, Gulfport, St. Petersburg and Tampa police departments, are now certified to help other…

This week, we kicked off our 2024 Summer Scams Series: Sunny Days and Shady Deals edition with a warning about online sales scams.
It is common for online retailers to offer special deals and discounts during the summer months.
This can create a flood of online traffic and wherever…

This week, we announced the third consecutive report with a drop in statewide drug-related deaths. Along with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, we released the Florida Medical Examiners Drugs Identified in Deceased Persons 2023 Interim Report.
The report shows that total drug-…

This week, our Office of Statewide Prosecution announced the arrest of six fraudsters for stealing nearly $250,000 from Florida seniors through grandparent scams.
The defendants contacted seniors posing as lawyers or legal representatives of one of the victim’s grandchildren. The…

This week, we hosted a Cryptocurrency Scams Symposium in The Villages and recognized our top Seniors vs. Crime volunteers.
Florida is proud to be home to more than 5.5 million seniors. Unfortunately, there are bad actors who try to prey on older Floridians, but we are fighting back. Our…

This week, standing with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and other law enforcement partners, we announced the rescue of 10 human trafficking victims and a new statewide strike team.
The Florida Human Trafficking Strike Team is another way we are fighting back against…

This week, we shined a light on the dangers of opioid misuse and the power of naloxone to save lives. On Florida’s first Revive Awareness Day, we warned Floridians to never use illicit drugs and highlighted our Helping Heroes program.
Over the past several years, more than 100,000…

This week, we released our 2024 Hurricane Preparedness Guide to help Floridians get ready for what is expected to be a very active Atlantic Hurricane Season.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently released their annual hurricane season forecast for the Atlantic Basin…

This week, I teamed up with the Florida Highway Patrol, Florida Department of Transportation, and Mothers Against Drunk Driving to urge Floridians to be cautious behind the wheel during the 100 Deadly Days of Summer.
Historically, Memorial Day through Labor Day is the most dangerous time…