Politics
Tom Leek postpones floor vote on cop killer bill after Black Caucus decries removal of ‘good faith’ standard
After hearing impassioned arguments over its potential negative impacts, Ormond Beach Republican Sen. Tom Leek has postponed a floor vote on his bill to enhance penalties for people found guilty of killing a police officer.
Leek and Jacksonville Republican Rep. Jessica Baker have argued for weeks that their companion bills (SB 234, HB 175) afford cops no additional room to misuse their authority.
They’ve said the legislation is instead meant to ensure that debate about the lawfulness of an arrest or detainment takes place in a courtroom, not on the street where it sometimes leads to lethal results.
But contention that the legislation’s removal of a requirement that officers act in “good faith” when arresting or detaining people has persisted, with detractors contending it will embolden bad actors and suppress historically marginalized communities.
That contention came to a head Wednesday before a planned vote on SB 234, with several Black lawmakers pushing back against the bill. Leek heard them and temporarily pulled the measure from consideration.
“My love for you all tells me today that the best thing for us to do is to keep talking, to continue the discussion (and) try to do the best that we can to make everybody comfortable that the policy we pass is good policy,” he said.
SB 234, if passed in its current form, would require defendants convicted of manslaughter in cases involving the death of a police officer to receive life sentences without parole. The legislation is named for Daytona Beach Police Officer Jason Rayner, who was fatally shot in 2021.
Prosecutors sought a first-degree murder charge against Rayner’s killer, Othal Wallace, who resisted lawful detainment by Rayner, forced a physical confrontation and in less than 30 seconds pulled a gun and shot the officer in the head. Jurors instead found Wallace guilty of a lesser manslaughter charge, which carries a maximum 30-year prison sentence when the crime involves a firearm.
Community outrage followed Wallace’s sentencing. So did bills last year from Fort Myers Republican Sen. Jonathan Martin and Baker, both former Assistant State Attorneys, neither of which succeeded.
SB 234 and HB 175 would add manslaughter to the list of crimes — including first- and second-degree murder, and attempted murder — against a police officer for which the mandatory minimum sentence is life imprisonment without parole.
It would also eliminate statutory language to clarify that a person cannot resist an officer with violence or the threat of violence when the officer is performing his or her official duties.
That change is necessary, Baker said, because “jurors can get confused” when interpreting the relevant statutes as they’re currently listed, and defendants have used that confusion to their advantage.
But the legislation’s removal of a “good faith” standard for officers has been a persistent sticking point. Miami Gardens Democratic Sen. Shevrin Jones explained why Wednesday while proffering an amendment, which his GOP colleagues shot down, that would have kept that language in the law.
“If there is a factual question about good faith, the jury should be able to ask and engage (on) it. That’s what our system does, trust a jury to make sometimes difficult calls,” he said. “In Black communities, this (bill) does not and will not play out (the way you think it will).”
Several of Jones’ Black Caucus colleagues concurred. St. Augustine Democratic Sen. Darryl Rouson, who made history as Pinellas County’s first Black prosecutor, spoke of how he taught his sons to be submissive during police interactions because “if you resist, you might die.”
Requiring good faith from police officers, he said, “doesn’t seem like a whole lot to ask” in return.
Rosalind Osgood, a Tamarac Democrat, voted for SB 234 twice during the committee process, but had a change of heart after speaking with Black police officers, community members and reflecting on her own uneasy interactions with law enforcement.
She spoke of the police killing of George Floyd in May 2020 that sparked nationwide protests and calls for police reforms and how, even as people witnessed and filmed the incident, no one intervened.
“Law enforcement officer can do their jobs … but they can’t just do what they want to do, and a lot of times in our community we have law enforcement officers that handled us in a way that’s not of justice (and) that I know most of you in this room would not approve of,” she said. “We’re (not) saying all White police officers are bad or we’re making ourselves the victims. What we’re trying to express to you is the reality of what we live with every day.”
Hollywood Democratic Sen. Jason Pizzo, a former prosecutor and the current leader of Senate Democrats, said SB 234 undermines the “gatekeeping function” of the Fourth Amendment, which protects people from unlawful searches and seizures. But as it’s written, it would also disincentivize defendants from pleading guilty because of the heightened mandatory minimum.
“This is a bill that basically addresses how upset we are that a jury found a lesser (sentence). This is, ‘How do we get justice (and) closure for our family because a prosecutor didn’t do a good enough job to get a higher charge,’” he said. “If the prosecutor had gotten second-degree murder, there would not be an SB 234.”
In what initiated the most heated exchange on the floor Wednesday, Martin talked of how “many people disrespected law enforcement but at the same time would demand that law enforcement would keep their community safe.” He attributed that disconnect to “televised controversy, where someone says they were innocent and were profiled,” but that the officers in question were acting on material evidence — a vehicle description, for instance — that prompted the interaction.
“We cannot let the lies in the media that amp us up … ruin our communities, and this bill gets to the heart of that issue,” he said, adding that nonviolent resistance such as walking away when a cop tells you to stop would still be lawful. “If the law enforcement officer doesn’t have a right to detain you, you have a right to run away. But under no circumstance do you have a right to fight that officer (or) resist with violence.”
Jones, his voice raised, told Martin racial profiling and implicit bias are “not a myth.” Martin denied saying any such thing.
“It may not be in your community,” Jones said. “You’ve got five Black members who are sitting in this room, so don’t say racial profiling is not real, because it is, sir.”
Before pulling the bill, Leek tried to lower the temperature in the room.
“There’s no one in this chamber who believes racial profiling doesn’t exist,” he said. “We know it happens.”
Organizations supporting the “Officer Jason Rainer Act” include the Florida Sheriffs Association, Florida Police Chiefs Association, Florida Smart Justice Alliance, Gun Owners of America, Florida State Fraternal Order of Police, Florida Police Benevolent Association, Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, Orange County Sheriff’s Office and Sun Coast Police Benevolent Association.
Aaron Wayt of the Florida Association of Defense Attorneys said Floridians today have “multiple defenses” against excessive, unwarranted force by a police officer, and key to those defenses are the “good faith” and “legal duties” standards.
“If we don’t agree that officers should be acting in good faith,” he said, “that’s the sound of the canary in the coal mine.”
As the National President of Born to Ride for 45, I’m here to tell you what I saw in Tallahassee this week. I rode all the way to the Capitol with my brothers and sisters to fight for affordable auto insurance in Florida in support of HB 1181. Why? Because Florida’s current system is a raw deal for us and it’s time for change.
It’s been suggested that we were at the Capitol doing the bidding of other organizations – LIES. I stand with and for the 1.5 million bikers in Florida – add in their wives and children and you’re talking about 3 million residents of this state. That’s 3 million voters that are paying attention.
Here’s the truth: when my fellow bikers get maimed, there’s no one else left to turn to, no one else fighting for us. That’s why I’m out there fighting for real change. Changes that mean everyone is responsible on Florida roads.
What I saw this week in Tallahassee made me mad. We the people – regular Floridians – are going up against a corporate insurance industry that’s been protected by a bureaucracy that coddles the rich and powerful, backed by a couple of high-level politicians. And what’s at stake? Our ability to afford to live in Florida.
This isn’t just about repealing PIP. It’s about a no-fault system that’s rigged against working-class people, the ones struggling with inflated insurance premiums, while the big corporations cash in and no one takes responsibility. And boy, have they cashed in. It’s time for a responsibility-based system that protects everyone on the roads when they are injured in an accident and puts some money back where it belongs – in the people’s pockets!
Testifying before lawmakers, I showed them my pocket Constitution and reminded them they swore an oath on it, an oath to “We the People.” Not, we the insurance companies.
I was also in Tallahassee in 2023 when lawmakers passed the “reforms” they’re now trying to tell us worked. They didn’t work for anyone other than insurance executives.
Florida has the highest rates in America, and they haven’t gone down. No one’s rates have gone down, and now they’re trying to block a bill that would eliminate a garbage insurance requirement that doesn’t protect anyone – especially not guys and gals who ride. I’m willing to bet it does protect insurance companies’ bottom line, though!
I don’t know what “consumers” the insurance industry and politicians are talking to when they claim these reforms are a “win.” Everyone I know is still getting hammered with higher costs — again, the highest in the nation.
President Donald Trump told it to us straight during the campaign. He noted that we “have the highest insurance in the nation, and the bill they passed made it good for the insurance companies.” And make no mistake—those rates specifically discriminate against freedom bikers like us.
The so-called “reforms” didn’t reduce anything. They’ve only continued to stack the deck in favor of the insurance companies while leaving regular Floridians to pick up the tab. Nothing’s gotten better. It’s just the same old scam. You know what they say about lipstick on a pig, right?
And trust me, I know Donald Trump. Using his name to justify these so-called reforms is not right. What he said was the truth: Florida’s reforms were the most significant insurance industry bailout and a total SCAM!
He said in 2024, “Your automobile insurance is up 73%. VOTE FOR TRUMP, I’LL CUT THAT NUMBER IN HALF!” HB 1181 is the harbinger of that. We need a system for the people, not for the profits. Nothing has changed for the better. The system’s more rigged, complicated, and less accountable than ever.
The only people benefiting from these “reforms” are the corporate elites and a few politicians. Meanwhile, Floridians are still struggling to afford basic insurance. We were promised relief, not a scam.
But here’s the good news: Byron Donalds will change that, so I support him for Governor.
It’s time for leadership that fights for the people and an affordable Florida. Leadership that embraces the Constitutional oath of “for the people.”
Because when they don’t, we the people will be watching, and we will keep riding.
___
George Colella is the National President of Born to Ride for 45.
In the ever-growing conversation about infrastructure, mobility, and quality of life, one message is rolling across Florida loud and clear: public transit matters.
In January, the Florida Public Transportation Association (FPTA) launched a bold new initiative to remind Floridians that buses, trains, and paratransit services are not just vehicles; they are lifelines.
Dubbed “Transit Connects Florida,” the statewide campaign is as expansive as the systems it aims to promote. With over 40 member agencies spanning everything from urban rail systems to rural bus routes, FPTA’s reach is vast. Now, with a fresh digital tool and an ambitious media blitz, they aim to make public transportation personal.
“Transit connects people to so many things that are important in their lives,” said Karen Deigl, FPTA Chair and president/CEO of Senior Resource Association in Vero Beach. “Family, fun, health, commerce, and adventure — that’s what’s on the other side of the ride.”
The campaign, spearheaded by Central Florida-based marketing agency Global-5, is rooted in a clear message: connection. Floridians already make connections by taking nearly 160 million passenger transit trips every year and covering almost 850 million passenger miles.
Now, the goal is to multiply them.
A digital doorway to transit
At the center of the campaign is the sleek new website, TransitConnectsFlorida.com, which aims to be a one-stop shop for Floridians wondering how to get from Point A to Point Better. With just a county name, users can access contact info for their local transit system, whether it is buses in Tampa, trains in Broward, or paratransit services in Tallahassee.
It is designed to be simple and intuitive and, like transit itself, built around the idea that everyone should have a ride.
Moving the message
To bring that message to the masses, FPTA is going full throttle with a multimedia ad campaign targeting all markets throughout Florida. Billboards, streaming audio, radio spots, and social media ads spotlight real-world destinations where transit makes a difference: the job interview, the doctor’s appointment, the beach, or even Grandma’s house.
The hope? That Floridians will start to see public transportation not just as an option, but as their option.
“Transit is good for Florida,” Deigl emphasized. “It increases mobility for residents and visitors, and it creates a five-to-one economic return for our communities.”
That kind of ROI is impressive and essential, especially as state and local leaders weigh long-term investments in sustainability, equity, and smart growth.
A long-term ride
While the ad campaign is expected to run through Florida’s 2025 Legislative Session, the tools it introduces are built to last. The website will remain a permanent part of Florida’s transit landscape, helping residents across the Sunshine State explore their mobility options for years to come.
The campaign lands at a crucial time for lawmakers, advocates, and everyday commuters. As more cities wrestle with congestion, weather challenges, and the needs of aging populations, transit is poised to play a starring role.
If FPTA has anything to say about it, that role starts with a simple idea: connection.
So, next time you hear the familiar whoosh of doors opening or see the blink of an approaching bus, remember: the ride is not just about where you are going. It is about what — and who — you will connect with along the way.
President Donald Trump said Sunday that “I’m not joking” about trying to serve a third term, the clearest indication he is considering ways to breach a constitutional barrier against continuing to lead the country after his second term ends in early 2029.
“There are methods which you could do it,” Trump said in a telephone interview with NBC News.
He also said “it is far too early to think about it.”
The 22nd Amendment, which was added to the Constitution in 1951 after President Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected four times in a row, says “no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.”
NBC’s Kristen Welker asked Trump if one potential avenue to a third term was having Vice President JD Vance run for the top job and “then pass the baton to you.”
“Well, that’s one,” Trump responded. “But there are others too. There are others.”
“Can you tell me another?” Welker asked.
“No,” Trump replied.
Vance’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press.
Trump, who would be 82 at the end of his second term, was asked whether he would want to keep serving in “the toughest job in the country” at that point.
“Well, I like working,” the president said.
He suggested that Americans would go along with a third term because of his popularity. He falsely claimed to have “the highest poll numbers of any Republican for the last 100 years.”
Gallup data shows President George W. Bush reaching a 90% approval rating after the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. His father, President George H.W. Bush, hit 89% following the Gulf War in 1991.
Trump has maxed out at 47% in Gallup data during his second term, despite claiming to be “in the high 70s in many polls, in the real polls.”
Trump has mused before about serving longer than two terms before, generally with jokes to friendly audiences.
“Am I allowed to run again?” he said during a House Republican retreat in January.
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