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Safe Policing and the President's EO 13929

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On June 16, 2020, President Trump issued Executive Order No. 13929 addressing safe policing principles in our communities. In part, the Presidential order mandates that DOJ discretionary grant funding will be available only to “those state and local law enforcement agencies that have sought or are in the process of seeking appropriate credentials for compliance with the two mandatory safe policing principles in the DOJ Standards of Certification.” The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) has been identified as a credentialing body for law enforcement agencies in Florida. 
 
Pursuant to guidance issued by DOJ, FDLE will accept a “statement of declaration attesting that agency policy has been reviewed and is compliant with the EO. The statement of declaration is a legally binding document and assures that the agency head has reviewed the policy or policies and complies with the two mandatory requirements of the EO.”  The U.S. Department of Justice will continue to post updated information to the COPS Office website at https://cops.usdoj.gov/SafePolicingEO, and you may also contact the COPS Office at 800-421-6770.
 
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has released a fact sheet offering more information about the implementation of the order and providing answers to some frequently asked questions.  Agencies who wish to be eligible to receive DOJ discretionary grant funding must have policies in place which adhere, at a minimum, to the two, mandatory principles outlined below:

  1. Adherence to applicable laws. The applying agency maintains use of force policies that adhere to all applicable federal, state, and local laws. 
  2. Prohibition of choke holds. The applying agency maintains use of force policies that prohibit the use of choke holds, except in situations where the use of deadly force is allowed by law.

 
As noted above, FDLE will accept attestations from state and local agencies who wish to be eligible to receive DOJ discretionary grant funding. The attestation template is provided below. We emphasize that the attestation is a legally binding document being relied upon as a truthful declararation of an agency's compliance with these principles. FDLE will require these agency attestations to be signed by the agency’s chief executive.


Attestation of Compliance with
U.S. Department of Justice Standards
for Certification on Use of Force and
Safe Policing for Communities


Agencies who wish to be eligible to receive DOJ discretionary grant funding must submit their properly executed attestation by December 31, 2020 to FDLE’s Office of Criminal Justice Grants at Attestations@fdle.state.fl.us. Once an agency’s attestation has been reviewed and confirmed, it will be valid for three years from the date of issue. FDLE will provide written confirmation that attestations have been received.

If you have any questions regarding submission of the attestation, please contact Patricia "Patty" Stark at (850) 617-1252.


 

Florida Department of Law Enforcement Priorities

FDLE is composed of five areas: Executive Direction and Business Support, Criminal Investigations and Forensic Science, Criminal Justice Information, Criminal Justice Professionalism and Florida Capitol Police. FDLE’s duties, responsibilities and procedures are mandated through Chapter 943, FS, and Chapter 11, FAC. To learn more about these areas, read our Statement of Agency Organization and Operation or visit our Open Government page.