House Bill hb0609

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    Florida House of Representatives - 2001                 HB 609

        By Representative Harper






  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to the City of Belle Glade;

  3         providing for the relief of Willie Police, III,

  4         Cora Donaldson, Willie Police, Sr., and the

  5         Estate of Willie Police, Jr.; authorizing and

  6         directing the City of Belle Glade to compensate

  7         them for injuries suffered as a result of the

  8         death of Willie Police, Jr., due to the

  9         negligence of employees of the city; providing

10         an effective date.

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12         WHEREAS, on February 13, 1993, Willie Police, Jr., who

13  was 17 years of age, and a friend attended a dance which was

14  being held at the Civic Center in Belle Glade, and

15         WHEREAS, while the two friends were standing in the

16  parking lot after the dance, a disturbance began; as a result

17  of the disturbance, both Willie Police, Jr., and his friend

18  were shot, and Willie Police, Jr., died at the scene, and

19         WHEREAS, the group that sponsored the dance allegedly

20  did not have permission to use the civic center and had broken

21  into the center that night and held the party without the

22  permission of the city, and

23         WHEREAS, 1 week before the dance, the group had passed

24  out flyers inviting the public to the event, and

25         WHEREAS, police were called to the scene because of the

26  noise created by the party, and, although police officers did

27  respond to the call and go to the party, they did not check to

28  see whether the group was legitimately using the civic center,

29  they did not speak to any person in charge, nor did they check

30  to see if there was any security provided for the party, and

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    Florida House of Representatives - 2001                 HB 609

    766-101-01






  1         WHEREAS, the testimony of city officials and the police

  2  revealed that, any time a party is held at the civic center,

  3  security is to be provided by either the city or the person

  4  who gives the party, and

  5         WHEREAS, the testimony further showed that such a party

  6  is always recorded on the books of the city, and the city then

  7  informs the police department of the party, and

  8         WHEREAS, the Belle Glade Police Department never

  9  checked with the city nor with anyone else about this party,

10  even after noise complaints were registered, and, if they had

11  checked, they would have shut down the party because it was

12  not a scheduled event, and there was no security, and

13         WHEREAS, at the time of his death, Willie Police, Jr.,

14  was the father of a 3-year-old son, Willie Police, III, who

15  has been deprived of the support and companionship of his

16  father, and

17         WHEREAS, Willie Police, Jr.'s parents, Cora Donaldson

18  and Willie Police, Sr., have been deprived of the services and

19  companionship of their son, NOW, THEREFORE,

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21  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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23         Section 1.  The facts stated in the preamble to this

24  act are found and declared to be true.

25         Section 2.  The City of Belle Glade is authorized and

26  directed to compensate Willie Police, III, Cora Donaldson,

27  Willie Police, Sr., and the Estate of Willie Police, Jr., out

28  of funds of the city not otherwise appropriated, in the amount

29  of $381,649.10 for injuries and damages sustained as a result

30  of the death of Willie Police, Jr.

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    Florida House of Representatives - 2001                 HB 609

    766-101-01






  1         Section 3.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a

  2  law.

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