Congressman John Mica joins me at 8AM to discuss Orlando's murder rate

MURDER SPIKE PROMPTS MICA ACTION

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Rep. John L. Mica will convene a meeting with federal, State and local law enforcement officials Friday, June 23, 2006 to discuss action relating to the problem of a dramatic spike in murders in both the Orlando and Jacksonville areas.

"The significant increase in homicides in Orlando and Jacksonville require both a review of current efforts and an action plan to coordinate federal, State and local resources to get a handle on this explosion of violence,” said Rep. Mica.

The Congressman, a Member and past Chairman of the U.S. House Criminal Justice and Drug Policy Subcommittee, will be joined by Office of National Drug Control Policy Assistant Deputy Director Joe Keefe of the Washington, D.C. Drug Czar’s office, to meet with local officials. The Directors of the North Florida and Central Florida HIDTA, respectively Ed Williams and William T. Fernandez, and representatives for the Orlando Mayor, Orlando Police Department, Orange County Commission, State Attorney and Members of the Jacksonville City Council have also been invited.

"Our goal is to bring together all levels of government and develop a successful strategy to marshal whatever resources necessary to combat the growing murder rate,” Rep. Mica stated. “Unfortunately, many of these murders are related to illegal narcotics.”

According to the Orlando Sentinel, Orlando outpaced the national increase with a nearly 30% rise in murders. In Jacksonville, according to the 2006 UCR Crime Report, during the months of January to April there were 46 homicides in 2006 compared to 22 in 2005, a 109.1% increase.

Rep. Mica was successful in securing designation of Central Florida as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) in October, 1997. This federal designation under law provides additional resources from national agencies to help the State and local governments in combating illegal narcotics trafficking.

Rep. Mica, working with former Rep. Tillie Fowler, helped establish the North Florida HIDTA in 2001, with federal recognition that the area was a frequent transit point for interstate drug distribution. Like the Central Florida HIDTA, the program enhances and coordinates drug control efforts among local, State and federal agencies.