Tallahassee Trip

Tallahassee Trip

A “retirement celebration” was held for outgoing Chief Derek D. Barrs of the Florida Highway Patrol on Tuesday, January 7, 2020 at 3:00 p.m. in Tallahassee, Florida. Interim Sheriff Carmine Marceno authorizes the following actions:

1. Seven ranking officers to attend this two hour ceremony which included himself and Chief Holloway

2. Seven motel rooms (one for each officer attending)

3. The dispatch of two LCSO vehicles to carry the luggage

4. Two rental vehicles

5. One aircraft for transportation to Tallahassee of five of the ranking officers

Page 6 of the travel requests (Exhibit 1)  indicates that two departmental vehicles were used, one driven by Captain Chris Lalor and the other by Captain Andy Prisco. Further, the travel request states that the departmental aircraft would be used for transportation, however, the aircraft tail number listed on page 6 (Exhibit 1) is not an aircraft that is owned by LCSO as all their aircraft tail numbers (belonging to LCSO) ends in LC. 

At the last moment, Colonel Jim Rankine canceled and was replaced by Captain Christopher Reeves.

According to AGO-79-105 the travel and expenses associated with an event being paid from public funds must have a public purpose. In part it states the following:

“An officer's travel expenses may be paid from public funds only when the travel is for a public purpose authorized by law to be performed by the agency or official in question, is necessary for the conduct of official business of the state, and is necessary for the performance of the officer's official duties.”

This specific AGO opinion has other support of other AGO opinions reached in relationship to the question of “public purpose”.

The total cost of this trip exceeds $ 6000.00. Exhibit 2 contains a general summary of the expenditure of funds. This was public funds used for a two hour retirement party in which there is no evidence that any of the attendees from the Lee County Sheriff even knew or worked with Chief Derek Barrs. Further, the attendee list shows no person from Florida Highway Patrol - Troop F (Fort Myers) attending the event. 

What is the “public purpose” for the expenditure of public funds for this event. Further, if one concludes that LCSO should have had a representative at the retirement celebration, the question that needs to be asked, does it take seven officers, seven motel rooms, two departmental cars, an aircraft, and two rental vehicles to make a point of appreciation?

UPDATE 10/04/2021

The Ethics Commission conducted a review of both the Tallahassee Trip and the Credit Card Expenditures (Exhibit 3) and found no issues except the Failure to report a gift (Use of Private Aircraft) within 90 days (Exhibit 4). 

"We Present The Facts - You Decide The Truth"