Kevin Beary

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Kevin Beary is a former Sheriff of Orange County, Florida, United States, and as such was the top elected law enforcement official of the Orange County Sheriff's Office, one of the largest law enforcement bodies in the Southeastern United States. Elected in 1992, Beary served as Sheriff from 1993 to 2009.

Contents 1 Biography 2 Awards 3 Appointments 4 Controversy 5 References 6 External links

[edit] Biography

First elected in 1992 as a Republican, after election to his fourth term, he changed party affiliation to Independent. His educational background includes a bachelor's degree from Liberty University and a master's degree in criminal justice from the University of Central Florida. He is the son of former Winter Park, Florida, Police Chief Ray Beary, and the brother of former Lake Mary, Florida, Police Chief Richard Beary. Richard Beary is now the Chief of Police at the University of Central Florida. Kevin Beary is also a Shriner at The Bahia Shrine in Orlando, Florida, which has hospitals across the nation for children. They are called Shriners Hospitals for Children.

[edit] Awards

Sheriff Beary has received numerous awards for his dedicated service to his community and profession. In June 2003, he was named Sheriff of the Year by the National Sheriffs' Association. In 2002 he received the Professional Achievement Award from the University of Central Florida. In 2001 he was honored with the Hispanic Community Award and in 2000 received the Police Athletic League Award. He is also the recipient of the Silver Beaver Award from the Central Florida Council of the Boy Scouts of America. In 1996 he was recognized by the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Officers and the National Rifle Association chose him as their Law Enforcement Officer of the Year.

[edit] Appointments

Sheriff Beary was appointed by (former) Governor Jeb Bush to co-chair the Florida Domestic Security Task Force (Region V) on terrorism. He has also been asked to serve on the FBI's Executive Advisory Team for Homeland Security. Sheriff Beary is past president of the Major County Sheriff's Association, Central Florida Criminal Justice Association and the Florida SWAT Association. He currently serves on the D.A.R.E. America Operations Advisory Committee and is past chairman of the National Police Board of G.R.E.A.T. (Gang Resistance Education and Training). Sheriff Beary has been selected by the American Society for Industrial Security as a member of the Society's International Standing Council on Global Terrorism.

[edit] Controversy

In 2004 and 2005, Beary was the subject of accusations of corruption by a former subordinate turned political rival in the 2004 sheriff's race and a local television news station, which resulted in an audit of homeland security spending by his department.^[1] Beary was later cleared of any wrongdoing by a Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation.^[2] On April 20, 2007 the Florida Ethics Commission found probable cause to believe that Beary violated Florida Ethics laws as a result of his involvement in his homeland security business and filed four counts against him. Beary is being prosecuted by the Florida Attorney General's Office and was to face trial on October 24, 2007 before a State of Florida Division of Administrative Hearings Judge on Case # 07-001820EC where Beary could have faced penalties up to removal from office. http://www.doah.state.fl.us/internet/search/detail.cfm?CaseNo=07-001820&URLString=0

In 2008, Beary decided not to run for a fifth term as Orange County Sheriff and left office on January 5, 2009. During the general election for his successor, Beary endorsed Jerry Demings, a Democrat, who was a former Chief of the Orlando Police Department, a former Orange County Director of Public Safety, and the first African-American to hold those posts in each agency's respective history. Demings also received endorsements from several other high-profile local Republicans to include former City of Orlando Mayor and Florida Secretary of State Glenda Hood. Demings won the election and relieved Beary in a ceremony on January 5, 2009.

In July 2009 Kevin Beary plead guilty to violating Florida ethics laws in the above mentioned case. He was fined a total of $20,000.00, ordered to have no business relationship with the company he started using tax dollars and public employees for three years and given a public reprimand and censure by the Governor of Florida.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Orange County Sheriff's Office
• February 2007 Ethics report notes "Beary may have violated the code of ethics"