Florida Department of Law Enforcement
Mark Glass, Commissioner
Florida Department of Law Enforcement
Mark Glass, Commissioner
FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass highlights major 2025 accomplishments
For Immediate Release
December 31, 2025
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) today released a summary of its most significant accomplishments in 2025, highlighting major public safety achievements, investigative milestones and statewide initiatives.
“I am incredibly proud of our members. The success FDLE achieved in 2025 would not have been possible without their tenacity, professionalism and unwavering commitment to public safety,” said FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass. “Governor DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet have been steadfast supporters of our agency, enabling our members to take on historic missions, complex investigations and innovative new initiatives. Across the state, our teams worked nights, weekends and holidays to keep Florida’s communities safe. From illegal immigration enforcement and collaborative operations to domestic security initiatives and major forensic advancements, our members have shown Floridians and visitors that protecting this state will always remain our top priority.”
Helping to Secure Florida’s Borders and Communities
In July, FDLE announced that all eligible sworn law enforcement members are federally certified under the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) 287(g) program, providing statewide authority to support federal immigration enforcement.
Operation Tidal Wave
FDLE’s participation in Operation Tidal Wave resulted in the arrest of 1,120 criminal illegal aliens, the largest number arrested by a single state in one week in ICE history. The operation targeted individuals with prior arrests or convictions, including violent offenders, gang members, registered sex offenders, fugitives from justice, and others posing significant public safety threats.
Operation Vigilant Sentry
FDLE continues to coordinate Florida’s law enforcement response in the Florida Keys by gathering and sharing intelligence and conducting investigations. FDLE provided aviation assets to support enhanced surveillance operations in this critical maritime region.
Operation Criminal Return
FDLE partnered with ICE to locate and arrest more than 230 registered illegal alien sexual offenders and sexual predators listed on Florida’s registry, targeting high-risk offenders who pose the greatest threat to public safety.
Alligator Alcatraz and Deportation Depot
FDLE provides daily support by supplying exterior security and investigative resources to assist ongoing detention and deportation operations.
Emergency Support Function – Emergency Operations Center (ESF-16)
FDLE coordinates the law enforcement response at the Emergency Operations Center, including statewide immigration-related activities and interagency responses across all state agencies.
Voluntary Departures
FDLE works in partnership with ICE/ERO, CBP, and FDEM to support more than 900 voluntary departures of illegal aliens from the Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Orlando areas.
State Board of Immigration Enforcement / State Immigration Enforcement Council
FDLE provides staff support for all council meetings and oversees the statewide immigration data‑collection and reporting framework. Additionally, FDLE provides training, technical assistance, and compliance guidance to state and local law enforcement agencies on illegal immigration reporting and cooperation requirements and implemented and administers the $250 million State Immigration Enforcement Grant Program to support local agencies and strengthen statewide enforcement.
Statewide Immigration Enforcement Dashboard
FDLE created and administers the statewide immigration enforcement dashboard, providing a centralized platform for uniform data collection, compliance monitoring, and statutory reporting.
Securing Florida Elections
In 2025, FDLE received over 160 election crime allegations that impacted more than 30 counties, leading to over 45 major case investigations being opened by the Office of Executive Investigations (OEI). To date, these investigations led to 26 arrests for multiple charges including election voting by unqualified voters, fraud in casting a vote, submitting false voter registration or information, fraud or impersonation or use of identification without consent, conspiracy to submit false voter registration applications, voting by aliens, casting a false ballot, making false claims to citizenship, making a false statement under oath, and witness to making false statements under oath.
In addition, FDLE’s Election Crime Unit has assisted Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with nearly 250 non-citizen investigations. The investigations have yielded seven arrests for non-citizens voting in Florida. OEI’s early involvement and investigative support at the federal level established effective inter-agency protocols and procedures with HSI that have been implemented as the national standard and utilized in training across the nation.
Protecting Florida Families
FDLE’s Missing Endangered Persons Information Clearinghouse (MEPIC) operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, assisting law enforcement and families in locating missing people by providing analytical support and collecting and disseminating relevant information. MEPIC engages the public through statewide alerts and shares safety publications that offer guidance on keeping families safe. MEPIC inspectors also provide training and assistance to law enforcement agencies on missing‑persons investigations and crimes against children.
In 2025 to date, MEPIC activated 312 state alerts, resulting in 307 missing people recovered.
By the numbers as of this release:
FDLE’s statewide initiative to identify and arrest offenders who solicit children online or share child sexual‑abuse material resulted in more than 100 arrests in over 170 Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) cases in 2025. FDLE cyber teams continue to work closely with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to protect Florida’s children online and support law enforcement agencies across the state.
Stopping Human Trafficking
Operation Dragon Eye
In June, FDLE participated in a joint operation aimed at identifying and locating critically missing children in Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties. The operation, which was coordinated by the U.S. Marshals Service, and supported by various local, state and nonprofit partners, located or recovered 28 children. The ages of the children ranged from 10 to 18. The operation led to a human trafficking investigation and arrest of a 42-year-old man who had been trafficking a 17-year-old female.
Operation Home for the Holidays
In November, FDLE worked jointly with the U.S. Marshals Service in a two-week operation that resulted in the recovery of 122 missing or endangered children. The operation took place in the Tampa Bay, Jacksonville, Orlando and Fort Myers regions and nine other states. The operation, which was coordinated in response to the success of Operation Dragon Eye, pooled federal and state services including medical care, youth advocacy, juvenile justice coordination, foster care and child placement.
Safeguarding Government
Capitol Police
FDLE’s Capitol Police, created in 1973, serves the safety and security needs of the legislative and executive branches of state government. In 2025, Capitol Police responded to 2,820 incidents at the Florida Capitol, and the Crime Prevention Unit organized and presented 110 public safety and violence prevention courses to more than 1,800 attendees throughout 2025. In December, Commissioner Glass swore in Derrick Rahming as the new Colonel of Capitol Police.
Responding to Critical Incidents
Campus Shooting at Florida State University
On April 17, FDLE members, alongside local law enforcement, responded to Florida State University after a gunman opened fire on campus, killing two people and injuring six others. The swift and coordinated response by law enforcement protected students, faculty and visitors and stopped the threat.
Leading Florida’s Domestic Security Efforts
FDLE’s Division of Statewide Intelligence and members working in the Florida Fusion Center work 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year providing vital awareness and emergency management information that protects Floridians and the nation from crimes and terrorist activity. In 2025, analysts reviewed over 8,800 suspicious activity reports, elevating more than 1,600 of these reports as potential criminal intelligence and/or domestic security threats.
Combating Drug Trafficking
State Assistance for Fentanyl Eradication (SAFE) Initiative
FDLE administers the program, which provides money for local law enforcement agencies to be used in fentanyl and drug trafficking investigations. The FDLE also partners with various agencies to conduct these operations. To date, more than 190 SAFE cases have been investigated among 92 agencies. Together, FDLE and local agencies made more than 2,500 arrests in multiple counties. Additional cases are ongoing. SAFE investigations have resulted in law enforcement seizing more than 550 pounds of fentanyl, 65,130 fentanyl pills, 573 pounds of cocaine, 385 pounds of methamphetamine, $5.5 million in currency, over 860 firearms, and more than 75 vehicles.
FDLE Miami houses the South Florida SAFE Task Force which includes FDLE agents and detectives from the Doral Police Department, Florida International University Police Department, Hialeah Police Department, Medley Police Department, Miami Police Department, and Sweetwater Police Department. The detectives were sworn in as task force agents in April.
Additional Drug Trafficking Cases
In February, FDLE arrested a Jacksonville man for trafficking fentanyl. Agents seized more than four pounds of fentanyl, over a pound of cocaine, more than three pounds of PCP, $52,000 in cash, 38 firearms, and additional drug paraphernalia following a search of the suspect’s residence. The arrest was a result of an investigation conducted by the Tri-County Narcotics Task Force.
In June, FDLE rearrested the owners of Pace Pharmacy and their adult daughter in an ongoing pill mill investigation. After initially arresting the pharmacy owners in May on racketeering and drug charges, the second arrest included multiple felony counts of possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, felony counts of identity theft, and several counts of possession of drugs without a prescription.
In September, FDLE participated in “Operation Trackside”, a drug trafficking investigation led by the Boynton Beach Police Department. The investigation led to the arrest of 19 individuals tied to a multi-county drug trafficking organization. The case was funded by the SAFE grant program.
In October, FDLE arrested the leader of a drug smuggling organization working out of several Florida State Prisons. The investigation unveiled a complex scheme of the ZOE Pound Gang, a Haitian criminal street gang, to smuggle drugs, including LSD and methamphetamine into several state prisons.
In November, FDLE arrested 15 individuals connected to a drug trafficking organization operating throughout the Pensacola region in “Operation Nottingham”. The multi-agency operation resulted in the seizure of 132 pounds of drugs, including 14 pounds of fentanyl. The individuals face a range of charges, including racketeering, trafficking fentanyl, trafficking methamphetamine and money laundering.
Solving Crimes with Forensic Science
The FDLE Forensic Laboratory system is comprised of six regional laboratories, the FDLE DNA Investigative Support Database, and the Alcohol Testing Program, all of which are accredited by the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB). Accredited laboratory services include both testing and calibration, which are performed in compliance with international standard ISO/IEC 17025:2017. FDLE has maintained laboratory accreditation since 1990. FDLE’s forensics members also provide training to law enforcement. FDLE’s forensic services are free for law enforcement across the state.
In 2025, FDLE’s forensic scientists completed more than 56,700 cases across 10 disciplines, made more than 2,300 National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) notifications, and processed more than 898,400 biometric identification system reviews.
By the numbers as of this release:
Cold Case Breakthrough: 1994 Tina Heins Homicide
FDLE’s Crime Lab was integral in reigniting the 1994 homicide of Tina Heins, and their contribution resulted in the arrest of Michael Shane Ziegler. Evidence had been submitted to FDLE for Biology, Friction Ridge, Trace, and Toxicology analysis decades ago, but through newer DNA testing and developments over the past few years, the DNA profile from the scene was matched to Ziegler. Ziegler was arrested on September 4 by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
Tracking and Monitoring Sexual Offenders
FDLE houses Florida’s Sex Offender Registry, which saw several updates to the registration laws last Legislative Session. FDLE members spent months implementing these changes by updating programming, registration documents, and the public registry website.
In June, FDLE launched Florida’s enhanced Career Offender Registry on the FDLE website. The public safety application has new neighborhood search features and maps. The public can search for career offenders by name, region, county, city and address.
In October, FDLE implemented electronic registration for career offenders, streamlining a previous manual paper process. Since October, over 300 electronic career offender registrations have been completed, removing the requirement for FDLE staff to manually enter that information into the registry.
In 2025, FDLE members added 3,450 new sex offenders and predators to the Sexual Offender and Predator website and disseminated more than 5,900 travel notifications to other states and territories. Citizens can access Florida’s Sex Offender Registry by downloading the FDLE Mobile App and search the online Florida’s Sex Offender Registry at Sexual Offenders and Predators Search.
In addition to maintaining the registry, FDLE investigated allegations of unregistered sex offenders living in Florida or sex offenders who move without updating their information.
Operation Matchmaker
In February, alongside the Tampa Police Department and the United States Marshals Service, FDLE participated in “Operation Matchmaker” which yielded 44 arrests.
Operation Cleanse the Swamp and Operation Spring Fever
In March, FDLE joined the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, Lake City Police Department, Florida Department of Corrections, and the State Attorney’s Office for the Third Judicial Circuit for “Operation Cleanse the Swamp” and “Operation Spring Fever”. The two joint investigations resulted in 18 arrests of sexual predators and sexual offenders.
Operation Sugar Bump
In May, FDLE assisted the Nassau County Sheriff's Office in conducting residential address checks for all registered career offenders residing within Nassau County. Three subjects were found to have absconded from their registered address. Arrest warrants were sought and all three targets were subsequently located and arrested.
Operation Summer Hurricane
In July, FDLE Tallahassee, along with the North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, conducted an online child predator sting and arrested five sexual predators in violation of Florida’s registration laws. One of the arrestees was taken into custody by Homeland Security Investigations for residing in Florida illegally. In August, as part of the same operation, FDLE agents arrested two additional sexual predators for similar charges. An additional arrest was made in October.
Operation Knock Knock
In August, FDLE assisted the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office in the arrest of 10 sexual offenders and predators for violations of Florida’s registration requirements.
Operation Summer Sizzle
In August, FDLE worked with the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, Gainesville Police Department, Alachua Police Department, and High Springs Police Department in “Operation Summer Sizzle”. The operation resulted in 84 completed address verifications and eight arrests.
Operation River Roundup
In September, FDLE partnered with the Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office to conduct compliance checks for sexual offenders and predators in the Suwannee County area. The three-day operation yielded 13 arrests for felony registration violations.
Operation Not a Fan
In October, FDLE members worked alongside the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations to arrest 10 sexual offenders and predators who violated Florida’s registration requirements. Investigators determined multiple offenders appeared to have unreported OnlyFans accounts.
Operation Unified Watch
In October, FDLE, alongside St. John’s County Sheriff’s Office, Saint Augustine Police Department, and the Florida Department of Corrections participated in the four-day “Operation Unified Watch”, which resulted in 19 arrests for failing to comply with Florida’s registration laws.
Operation Trick Bag
In October, FDLE partnered with the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office and Florida Department of Corrections to arrest eight sexual offenders and predators who were not in compliance with Florida’s registration laws. “Operation Trick Bag” was conducted over Halloween weekend and resulted in investigators traveling to 61 addresses to confirm the registrants were complying with registration laws.
Operation Lights Out
In November, FDLE, alongside the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and Florida Department of Corrections, arrested 29 sexual offenders and predators for violations of Florida law. The four-day operation led investigators to make contact with 63 registrants in Hillsborough County. 19 sexual offenders and 10 sexual predators were arrested for various registration violations.
Thwarting Fraudsters
In 2025, FDLE arrested more than 15 individuals in theft and fraud investigations. The cases varied from organized fraud, grand theft and auto theft to credit card theft, real estate investment scam and an illicit bail bondsmen scheme.
Protecting Public Office
In June, FDLE, along with Homeland Security Investigations and Attorney General James Uthmeier’s Office of Statewide Prosecution, arrested six individuals in a large-scale Central Florida gambling operation. Among those arrested includes then-Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez. The investigation revealed Lopez and his associates operated an illegal gambling enterprise that generated more than $21.6 million in illicit proceeds. While Lopez held public office, he continued to advance the interests of the criminal organization.
In June, FDLE arrested former Hialeah Police Chief Sergio Velazquez on charges of structuring transactions to evade reporting or registration requirements, organized fraud, and grand theft. In a five-month period, approximately $560,000 in “petty cash” and seized currency had disappeared. The investigation determined 62 cash deposits were made, totaling more than $140,000.
In September, FDLE arrested Estero Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Albert “Shane” Sibert and then-program manager of the Southwest Florida Urban Search and Rescue Task Force for embezzlement and stalking charges. Sibert was charged with scheme to defraud, grand theft, official misconduct, digital voyeurism dissemination, unlawful use of a tracking device, aggravated stalking, violation of injunction for protection against stalking, battery, money laundering, unlawful interception of communications, and video voyeurism. The investigation revealed Sibert had spent more than $47,000 on personal expenses using credit cards issued by the task force.
Dismantling Organized Retail Theft Rings
FDLE participated in the National Organized Retail Crime Blitz, coordinated by Attorney General James Uthmeier’s Office of Statewide Prosecution. The blitz resulted in 44 arrests, including three illegal aliens, and the recovery of more than $207,000 in stolen assets.
In August, FDLE arrested two Romanian nationals for fraudulent use of a credit card and organized scheme to defraud. The suspects re-encoded stolen EBT cards to purchase large quantities of energy drinks and baby formula from two major retailers.
Strengthening Statewide Tactical and Special Operations
The FDLE Special Operations Team (SOT) is made up of sworn personnel from across the agency who complete a rigorous selection and assessment process and receive specialized training to support high‑risk operations and protect Floridians. In 2025, the team assisted in 125 investigative operations statewide, resulting in 85 arrests, the encounter of 236 firearms and the seizure of multiple pounds of illicit narcotics.
Emergency Preparation
In May, FDLE members participated in a training exercise at the State Emergency Operations Center to test preparedness and strengthen coordination among agencies within the State Emergency Response Team. The exercise helped develop best practices for responding to a wide range of hazards.
FDLE also participated in statewide training exercises to prepare for large‑scale events and emerging security needs. Throughout the year, members joined multiple tabletop exercises and a full‑scale, multi‑agency exercise to strengthen coordination and readiness.
Supporting Law Enforcement
Law Enforcement Partnerships
FDLE continues to support its law enforcement partners in the shared mission to safeguard Florida’s citizens and visitors. Throughout 2025, department members assisted dozens of local, state and federal agencies in Florida, as well as criminal justice agencies in other states, by providing personnel, resources and investigative support.
FDLE also participated in a law enforcement surge during spring break, deploying personnel and tactical assets to high‑traffic destinations such as Miami Beach to help maintain public safety.
Officer Wellness
FDLE continues to prioritize the mental health of its members and law enforcement statewide. In 2025, FDLE conducted five free and confidential mental health seminars for law enforcement and corrections members who experienced trauma while on duty. FDLE has also hosted multiple Law Enforcement Culture for Clinicians seminars for mental health clinicians interested in providing services to the law enforcement community. In addition, the FDLE Peer Support Team provided support to law enforcement personnel following traumatic incidents.
Electronic Storage Device (ESD) K-9 Teams
FDLE’s Electronic Storage Device (ESD) K‑9 Teams support law enforcement partners across the state by locating concealed electronic devices during critical investigations. In 2025, the teams deployed more than 130 times, assisting in cases ranging from crimes against children and fraud to missing‑persons investigations.
FDLE Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS)
Faster Firearm Eligibility Research
The Firearm Eligibility Bureau performs criminal history record checks on individuals to determine their eligibility to receive or purchase a firearm in Florida. This includes researching criminal court cases to locate dispositions and sentencing information to make a final decision about a person’s eligibility. By December 2025, members processed 13,276 research cases that were pending a final decision. This was achieved while simultaneously processing new research requests. All firearm transactions requiring research are being completed within 60 days.
Background Check Requests
Level 1 criminal history record checks are name-based or fingerprint-based and searched only against Florida’s criminal history file. Level 2 criminal history record checks are fingerprint-based and searched against Florida’s criminal history file as well as the national repository. Level 1 and 2 checks are performed for certain employees, volunteers and those seeking licensure in the State of Florida. In 2025, CJIS processed more than 1,618,667 Level I background checks and more than 2,053,329 Level II background checks.
Florida’s Transition to Incident Based Reporting for Crime Data
Florida, along with the rest of the nation, is transitioning from general criminal activity reporting to detailed criminal incident-based reporting to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This complex national effort provides significantly improved insight into the details associated with crime. These details improve the ability of policy makers to respond to emerging crime trends. In Florida the transition is known as the Florida Incident Based Reporting System (FIBRS).
FIBRS requires changes in data systems in each of the law enforcement agencies in the state. To date, 229 Florida law enforcement agencies are successfully reporting, representing 72% of the state’s population. Most recently in 2025, 53 additional Florida law enforcement agencies joined FIBRS, representing 13% of the state population.
FDLE continues to support the data submissions from the agencies that have converted to FIBRS and to work with the remaining law enforcement agencies in the state to help them make the conversion.
In addition, FDLE’s CJIS program continues to lead and implement statewide initiatives that support Florida’s criminal justice communities.
FDLE Criminal Justice Professionalism
The FDLE Criminal Justice Professionalism Program Division supports the competency and professional conduct of criminal justice officers through partnerships with agencies statewide. In 2025, members delivered multiple non–high‑liability training classes and analyst courses reaching hundreds of Florida criminal justice professionals. The division also updated the School Guardian Management System.
Bureau of Training
In 2025, the Bureau of Training developed new Criminal Justice Standards and Training courses and completed a full rewrite of the Corrections Basic Recruit Training program. The division also updated the Corrections certification exam and created several new post‑basic courses.
Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute (FCJEI)
In 2025, the Department of Education awarded college credit for several FCJEI leadership programs, expanding educational opportunities for law enforcement professionals. Throughout the year, FCJEI hosted multiple leadership academies and executive‑level programs, graduating participants from agencies across Florida.
Sworn Training Unit (STU)
FDLE’s Sworn Training Unit develops and delivers high‑liability training for sworn FDLE members and the broader criminal justice community. In 2025, the unit conducted over 60 advanced firearms courses for officers statewide and completed a Special Agent Training class, graduating a new group of FDLE special agents.
Expanding FDLE’s Reach and Public Engagement
FDLE continued to expand its presence and public engagement efforts in 2025. In July, the department broke ground on a new regional facility in Fort Myers, a multi‑acre site that will house a modern, 64,000‑square‑foot operations hub for Southwest Florida.
Throughout the year, FDLE welcomed state legislators to regional operations centers, providing opportunities for local leaders to learn more about the agency’s work and community impact.
FDLE’s Public Information Office also produced a four‑part docuseries, The War on Miami, which premiered in August. The series traces Miami’s drug war from the 1970s to the present through interviews with retired and current FDLE agents and Florida leaders. The full series is available on the FDLE YouTube page.
For Further Information Contact
FDLE Office of Public Information
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.
