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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