Governor Rick Scott has appointed Columbia County Sheriff’s Office Captain Bennie G. Coleman to the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission. Captain Coleman, Commander of the Columbia County Detention Facility, will serve a four (4) year term on the Commission.
Captain Bennie Coleman retired from the Florida Dept of Corrections after 25 years of service. He retired as an assistant warden. Captain Coleman joined the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office in April of 2007. Sheriff Mark Hunter promoted Bennie Coleman to Captain in 2009 and appointed him as the Commander of the Detention Facility.
The mission of the CJSTC is to ensure that all citizens of Florida are served by criminal justice officers who are ethical, qualified, and well-trained.
Primary Responsibilities of the Commission:
— Establish uniform minimum standards for the employment and training of full-time, part-time, and auxiliary law enforcement, and correctional and correctional probation officers.
— Establish and maintain officer training programs, curricula requirements, and certification of training schools and training school instructors.
— Certify officers who complete a Florida Basic Recruit Training Program, or who are diversely qualified through experience and training, and who meet minimum employment standards.
— Review and administer appropriate administrative sanctions in instances when an officer, a training school instructor, or a training school is found in violation of Florida Statutes and Commission standards.
— Promulgate rules and procedures to administer the requirements of Chapter 943.085 – 943.257, F.S.
— Conduct studies of compensation, education, and training for the correctional, correctional probation, and law enforcement disciplines.
— Maintain a central repository of records of all certified officers.
— Conduct quarterly meetings to discuss issues and approve rules that relate to officer standards and training.
— Develop, maintain, and administer the State Officer Certification Examination for criminal justice officers.
The 19-Member Commission is composed of the following:
* Three (3) sheriffs
* Three (3) chiefs of police
* Five (5) law enforcement officers who are neither Sheriffs or Chiefs who are the rank of Sergeant or below within the employing agency.
* One (1) Person in charge of a county correctional institution.
* Two (2) Correctional Officers. One (1) of whom is an administrator of a state correctional institution, and one who is of the rank of sergeant or below within the employing agency.
* One (1) training center director
* One (1) Florida resident who falls into none of the above categories.
The Attorney General or designated proxy
The Secretary of Department of Corrections or designated proxy
The Director of the Florida Highway Patrol
