Lawsuit Filed Over Florida Dept. Of Corrections Gag Order
February 12, 2015
Six whistleblowers are suing the Florida Department of Corrections over a “gag order” issued by Secretary Julie Jones that they say violates state and federal law.
The legal challenge was filed Tuesday, one day before Jones told a Florida House panel the directive was necessary to shut down gossip and protect investigators.
Last week, Jones issued a staff “confidentiality agreement” barring inspectors from disclosing information about investigations to anyone except “those who have a need to know and only in connection with the official business of the Office of the Inspector General.” Violation of the policy could result in immediate firing.
The lawsuit was filed by six investigators who work for the agency’s inspector general, an official who answers to Gov. Rick Scott’s inspector general, Melinda Miguel. Miguel refused to grant four of the investigators whistleblower status last year, which prompted them to file a separate legal challenge claiming they were being retaliated against after exposing cover-ups involving the death of an inmate at a Panhandle prison.
On Wednesday, Jones defended her directive after being questioned about it during an appearance before the House Judiciary Committee.
Jones said she met with Department of Corrections Inspector General Jeffery Beasley in December prior to taking over her post and asked him if he had whistleblower complaints and if the whistleblowers claimed they were being retaliated against. His answer to both questions was yes, she said. She also said Beasley told her he did not have confidentiality agreements with the inspectors.
Jones, a veteran law-enforcement officer who previously headed the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and came out of retirement at Scott’s behest to take over the embattled corrections agency last month, said that such agreements are the norm in other agencies. The ban on disclosing information about investigations helps protect inspectors who may be pressured by more senior staff, she indicated.
“You have an inspector that has no specific rank is investigating presumed wrongdoing inside the institution. Someone of rank walks up and asks, ‘So what are you doing? What’s going on? Who are you investigating?’ And that individual needs to go look back and rely on a confidentiality agreement to say, ‘I can’t talk to you about that’ and feel real good about it,” she said. “Even in situations that are unfounded, you don’t want gossip. You don’t want water-cooler talk. You don’t want anyone talking, ‘I investigated so-and-so. Guess what they were accused of doing.’ It’s not professional … .”
But she conceded at least one misstep regarding the issuance of the directive, which came just two days after a Senate panel grilled Beasley.
“The timing was terrible. I just decided it’s just time to rip the Band-aid off and go forward. It was not intended as a gag order. It does not keep those investigators from collaborating on information,” Jones told the House panel on Wednesday, adding that the agreement also does not prohibit investigators from speaking to lawmakers. “So it was more or less, I think a good housekeeping piece toward how do you guarantee someone’s safety and their integrity when they come forward with concerns and keep that information confidential.”
In the lawsuit filed Tuesday, the inspectors’ lawyer, Steven Andrews, argued that Jones exceeded her authority by requiring the confidentiality agreement because Florida law requires that inspectors general offices be independent of agency oversight or control.
Andrews in the lawsuit also accused Jones of, among other things, misusing her position by trying to keep the inspectors from exposing wrongdoing at Florida prisons. One of the inspectors in the lawsuit described the directive as a “virtual gag order.”
“It is clear that the Staff Member Confidentiality Agreement was enacted to confer a special benefit or privilege on Inspector General’s such that they are prohibited from reporting misconduct outside of the agency including staffing of institutions below critical needs standards and ongoing prisoner abuse,” Andrews wrote.
by Dara Kam, The News Service of Florida
Gulf Power Turning To Oklahoma Wind For Power
February 12, 2015
Gulf Power Company is turning to the Oklahoma wind as a power source for Northwest Florida.
Wednesday, Gulf Power filed a petition asking the Florida Public Service Commission to approve an agreement that would make the utility a leading purchaser of wind generation among Florida utilities. The agreement would be the first of its kind in the state.
The project, called Kingfisher Wind, would be sited in Piedmont, OK, where conditions are favorable for wind energy.
“Kingfisher Wind will help Gulf Power add renewable generation that makes environmental and economic sense,” said Jeff Rogers, Corporate Communications manager. “Smart renewables, like Kingfisher Wind, are cost-effective for customers.”
With FPSC approval, the projected commercial operation date of Kingfisher Wind would be by December 31. The project includes 89 wind turbines and could supply 180 megawatts — enough energy to power approximately 50,700 homes per year.
“Kingfisher Wind, if approved, would represent approximately 5 percent of our projected energy mix,” said Rogers. “Wind power helps diversify the power supply and Kingfisher Wind is projected to provide lower overall energy costs.”
This wind project would be Gulf Power’s fifth renewable energy project following the Perdido Landfill Gas-to-Energy Facility, which has produced more than 100 million kilowatt hours of electricity since 2010, and three solar energy projects that will begin construction in February 2016 if approved by the FPSC.
Gulf Power announced in January that the utility is partnering with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force to build solar energy farms at three different facilities across Northwest Florida.
If approved by the FPSC, the solar energy farms will be constructed at Eglin Air Force Base in Fort Walton Beach (30 megawatts), Holley Field in Navarre (40 megawatts) and Saufley Field in Pensacola (50 megawatts) and could be in service as early as December 2016.
“Adding alternative energy facilities to our energy portfolio mix takes a large amount of careful planning to ensure we provide our customers with what they want and need — renewable energy that diversifies our power supply while remaining cost-effective,” Rogers said.
Pictured: Turbines representative of the type that will be constructed for the Kingfisher Wind project if approved by the FPSC. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
One Critically Injured In Flomaton Bridge Crash
February 12, 2015
One person was critically injured in a three-vehicle crash on the Big Escambia Creek Bridge on Highway 31 in Flomaton just before 5:00 Wednesday afternoon.
A 40-year old woman was transported by ambulance as a “trauma alert” to the McDavid Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and then airlifted by LifeFlight to a Pensacola Hospital. Authorities said she was in the driver’s seat of a pickup that was either stopped or moving slowly with mechanical problems on the bridge. Two other vehicles were involved in the rear-end, chain reaction type crash. There were no other serious injuries reported.
Reader submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Vendors Needed: Blue Jacket Jamboree Returns March 7
February 12, 2015
The annual Blue Jacket Jamboree is returning to Northview High School on Saturday, March 7, and local vendors are needed to sell their wares.
Interested craft vendors should contact Linda Till at (850) 572-1076 or Pam Kleinatland at (850) 712-6267. Food vendors should contact Kleinatland or Angus Brewton at (850) 256-5831.
The Blue Jacket Jamboree will be held on the campus of Northview High School from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on March 7. Admission is free for the event, which will include arts, crafts, food, a car show and entertainment.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Fire Burns Across Several Yards, Threatens Structures
February 12, 2015
The cause of a fire that burned across several Cantonment backyards Wednesday afternoon is under investigation. The fire was reported in the 2200 block of Handy Road about 2:55 p.m. The fire reportedly reached at least four yards and posed a threat to several structures before being brought under control. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Price, click to enlarge.
Cecil Stanley
February 12, 2015
Mr. Cecil Stanley, 83, passed away on Wednesday, February 11, 2015, in Pensacola.
Mr. Stanley was a native and life long resident of Atmore. His parents, Watterson and Ruby Bell Stanley, and sister, Gertrude Childress, precede him in death.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Dovie Nell Woods Stanley; children, Richard (Phyllis) Stanley, Greg (Wanda) Stanley and Gary (Kaye) Stanley; grandchildren, Maegan Stanley, Mallory Stanley, Tony Peska, Larissa Stanley, Riane Stanley, Liahnna Stanley and Raelyn Stanley; great-grandchildren, River Peska and Merek Stanley-Normand and siblings, Leonard Stanley, Windom Stanley and Aubrey Stanley.
Funeral services will be Saturday, February 14, 2015, at 3 p..m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Robert Heard and Rev. Mike Grindle officiating.
Burial will follow at Serenity Garden Cemetery.
Visitation will be Friday, February 13, 2015, from 6-9 p.m. at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Ronald Stanley, Chris Stanley, Tony Peska, Wade Barnes, Jacob Salter and Robbie Eichhorn.
Honorary Pallbearers will be Wayne Thompson, James Ward, Stan Childress, Al Womack, Walt Fuller and Charles Coale.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Controlled Burns Create Smoky Conditions
February 11, 2015
Controlled burns are created smoky conditions in some parts of the North Escambia area Wednesday afternoon.
There was a 15 acre burn just off Highway 97 on Pine Forest Road and a 65 acre burn off Highway 97A south of Occie Phillips Road. Smoke was also visible from several prescribed burns in Baldwin County and in Santa Rosa County. The largest fire planned in the area was about 1,000 acres near Garcon Point, south of I-10 near Milton.
Pictured: Smoke from a controlled burn off Highway 97 on Pine Forest Road late Wednesday morning as seen from Pine Forest Road (top) and Pelt Road (below). NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
No Injuries In Hwy 97 Crash
February 11, 2015
There were no injuries in a two-vehicle accident on Highway 97 in Davisville Wednesday morning about a mile south of West Highway 4. A southbound vehicle apparently rear-ended another vehicle that had stopped or slowed in the roadway to make a turn. All occupants of both vehicles refused medical treatment at the scene. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge
$1.5 Million In HVAC Upgrades Planned For Northview High
February 11, 2015
On any given day at Northview High School, students can often be found sweltering in one classroom while students are freezing just down the hall. Heating and cooling problems have plagued the school for years, and now the Escambia County School District is set to make repairs.
Bids have been received to replace air handling units and variable air volume boxes in two buildings. Low bidder was The Wright Company, Inc for $496,630 for the building containing the gym and theater, and $1.087 million for the main education building. The improvements will be funded by half cent sales tax monies.
The Escambia County School Board is set to consider the project at their February 17 meeting.
Northview High School opened 20 years ago.
20’s By Thursday Night
February 11, 2015
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
- Wednesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 39. West wind around 5 mph.
- Thursday Sunny, with a high near 56. North wind 5 to 15 mph.
- Thursday Night Clear, with a low around 25. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Friday Sunny, with a high near 50. North wind around 5 mph.
- Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 30. West wind around 5 mph.
- Saturday Sunny, with a high near 58. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
- Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 28. Northwest wind around 10 mph.
- Sunday Sunny, with a high near 46.
- Sunday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 28.
- Washington’s Birthday Mostly sunny, with a high near 58.
- Monday Night A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46.
- Tuesday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 67.