Legislators, Staff Member Honored by FPCA

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida Police Chiefs Association (FPCA) today announced the two recipients of the 2016 FPCA Legislator of the Year Award are Senator Garrett Richter (R-Naples) and Representative Neil Combee (R-Auburndale). Barbara Blasingame, Representative Combee’s Legislative Assistant, was named the Legislative Assistant of the Year. Representative Combe and Blasingame were presented with the awards yesterday at the 64th Summer Conference; Senator Richter will be presented with his award at a subsequent date.

“These individuals have shown the FPCA much support during the most recent legislative session and we are very fortunate for their good work on behalf of our members and officers throughout the state,” said Winter Park Police Chief Brett Railey, President of the FPCA.

Senator Richter, Representative Combee and Blasingame were recognized for their work on legislation to mitigate backyard firing ranges, a critical piece of legislation for the FPCA. The legislation, which was signed into law earlier this year, provides law enforcement officers with the tools necessary to better protect citizens from potentially dangerous backyard firing ranges in residential areas. Additionally, Representative Combee, a past recipient of the FPCA Legislator of the Year Award, is the only member of the Florida Legislature to proactively approach the FPCA about sponsoring its legislation.

The FPCA is the third largest state police chiefs association in the nation and is composed of more than 900 of the state’s top law enforcement executives. FPCA serves municipal police departments, airport police, college and university police, private business and security firms, as well as federal, state and county law enforcement agencies. The FPCA has members representing every region of the state. To learn more about the association, please visit www.fpca.com.

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