The Police Benevolent Association (PBA) of Florida chose to insert itself in a local campaign for sheriff, one so low that it could get under a snake's belly, and then call for contributions. ...more

November 12, 2008

In a recent letter to the editor, Henry Bozic of Avon Park stated he received a telephone solicitation from the Police Benevolent Association (PBA) and has mistakenly concluded that the telephone solicitation was in some way connected to my sheriff's campaign fund raising efforts. ...more

November 12, 2008

After watching the campaign for sheriff in Highland's County and looking at the campaign of Sheriff Benton and the campaign of challenger Ron Grimming, I felt compelled to bring up the calls I received from the Police Benevolent Association. We received a call asking us to donate, to help support the families of our fallen officers families. After choosing not to pledge, I received a follow up call to verify my pledge, which I had not made or agreed to. I am very disappointed at Ron Grimming to attempt to use this type of tactic to finance his campaign. We have always donated to all law enforcement agency fund raisers in the past, but will never donate to the PBA again. Ron you should have known better. Congratulations to Sheriff Benton. ...more

November 9, 2008

I am appalled that Mr. Grimming has employed the PBA to slander and misrepresent the facts regarding Sheriff Benton. Mr. Grimming was hired as director of the Florida Highway Patrol because the PBA lobbied for his hiring. Mr. Grimming has been in bed with the PBA for many, many years. While Mr. Grimming was the director of FHP, he was instrumental in a movement to regulate the sheriff's offices in Florida to nothing more than a processing agency. This aroused the ire of the sheriff's association, and immense political pressure was brought against the governor, cabinet and some legislators, by the Sheriff's association, and the movement was stopped. Because of the above political pressure, Mr. Grimming was only the director of the Florida Highway Patrol for just over four years. In other words he was asked to resign, or (you fill in the blank.) ...more

November 4, 2008

Highlands County Sheriff Susan Benton said she considers flyers mailed recently by the Florida Police Benevolent Association in support of her opponent, Republican Ron Grimming, misleading. ...more

November 2, 2008

Four years ago, Highlands County voters saw an active campaign for sheriff. In the primaries, four qualified candidates squared off in debates, and the November election saw two very qualified candidates. This election campaign, while very heated, was run with no mud slinging and ranting promises. ...more

October 23, 2008

Where does the Police Benevolent Association get off mailing out inflammatory political flyers? Most people in Highlands County have the good sense to know what a good sheriff we already have. My question is, how do they have the nerve to solicit donations and then use them for political purposes? If this is their agenda, they should never receive a penny more. ...more

October 23, 2008

Recently I received in the mail a red-on-white circular. In red letters it said "Evidence Scandal Erupts." It credits Stephen Newell with disclosing information about the operation of the Highlands County Sheriff's Department. I have two questions for Mr. David Murell, (Police Benevolent Association) PBA executive director. What does the state director of the PBA have to do with county operations (politics?) How can this be in any manner considered benevolence? ...more

October 18, 2008

The evidence handling controversy involving the Highlands County Sheriff's Office just isn't going away. ...more

September 6, 2008

BOWLING In the past two years, more bowlers are rolling 830 series within the county than ever before. ...more

August 29, 2008