FCJEI History
In February, 1989, soon after his appointment, FDLE Commissioner Tim Moore appointed an advisory committee of three chiefs and three sheriffs to guide the development of training being delivered by FDLE's External Training Executive Institute and Organized Crime Institute. The advisory committee included Chief Lee McGehee, Ocala; Chief Billy Riggs, West Palm Beach; Chief James Sewell, Gulfport; Sheriff Tim Dobek, Indian River County; Sheriff Lawrence Crow, Polk County, and Sheriff Neil Perry, St. Johns County.
Chaired by Chief McGehee, this advisory group began work on a blueprint for a continuing education program for criminal justice professionals in Florida. By the fall of 1989 the advisory group had the endorsement of the Executive Committee of the Florida Police Chiefs Association as well as the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission. This original concept became the Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute (FCJEI), created by the 1990 Florida Legislature "for the purpose of providing such training as is deemed necessary to prepare the state's present and future criminal justice executives to deal with the complex issues facing the state" (FSS 943.1755).
The 1990 Legislature also created a permanent home for the Institute in the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, established a formal affiliation with the State University System, and created a Policy Board of criminal justice professionals to "guide and direct" the activities of the Institute. Dr. James Sewell left the Gulfport Police Department to become the first Director of the FCJEI. He, along with a small staff and with the complete support of Commissioner Moore and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, incorporated the external training being offered by FDLE into the newly created FCJEI. Goals of the Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute are:
- To deliver educational programs for Florida criminal justice executives.
- To deliver seminars, workshops and other advanced programs for criminal justice professionals.
- To conduct research in areas of interest to criminal justice issues.
- To facilitate communication, networking and mentoring throughout the criminal justice system.
- To increase the effectiveness of education for the Florida criminal justice system through the application of technology.
Click here to read more about our history and FCJEI Directors.