Kevin Beary
Kevin Beary | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Sheriff of Orange County, Florida | |
| In office 1993–2009 | |
| Preceded by | Walter Gallagher |
| Succeeded by | Jerry Demings |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 12, 1957 Buffalo, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican (former) Independent |
| Spouse | Rebekah |
| Children | 4 |
| Alma mater | Liberty University University of Central Florida |
Kevin Beary (born May 12, 1957) was Sheriff 1993-2009 of Orange County, Florida, United States, heading the Orange County Sheriff's Office, one of the largest law enforcement bodies in the Southeastern United States.[1]
Biography
He was first elected in 1992 as a Republican. After election to his fourth term, he changed his party affiliation to Independent. Beary is said to also be considering a run in the special election to be held in 2018 for Orange County Sheriff. Beary is expected to run on the platform that he will bring OCSO back to being one of the top agencies in the nation.
Education
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.[1]
Personal
He is the son of former Winter Park, Florida, University of Central Florida Police Chief Ray Beary, and the brother of Police Chief Richard Beary.
Awards
In June 2003, Sheriff Beary was named Sheriff of the Year by the National Sheriffs' Association.[citation needed] In 2002 he received the Professional Achievement Award from the University of Central Florida. In 2001 he was given the local Hispanic Community Award.[citation needed] In 2000 he received the local Police Athletic League Award.[citation needed] He is also the recipient of the Silver Beaver Award from the Central Florida Council of the Boy Scouts of America.[clarification needed] In 1996 he was recognized[clarification needed] by the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Officers. The local National Rifle Association chose him as their Law Enforcement Officer of the Year.[citation needed]
Appointments
Beary was appointed by (former) Governor Jeb Bush to co-chair the Florida Domestic Security Task Force (Region V) on terrorism.[2]
He served on the FBI's Executive Advisory Team for Homeland Security.[citation needed] Beary was president of the Major County Sheriff's Association,[citation needed] Central Florida Criminal Justice Association[citation needed] and the Florida SWAT Association.[citation needed] He serves on the D.A.R.E. America Operations Advisory Committee[clarification needed] and is past chairman of the National Police Board of G.R.E.A.T. (Gang Resistance Education and Training).[citation needed] Beary was selected by the American Society for Industrial Security as a member of the Society's International Standing Council on Global Terrorism.[clarification needed]
Controversy
After Beary's election in 1992, Marianne Scholer, a former top-ranking woman in the Orange County Sheriff's Office was demoted and reclassified from major to lieutenant. She accused Sheriff Kevin Beary of sexual discrimination and filed a lawsuit which was settled in 1995 against a payment of $76,250.[3][4]
In 2004 and 2005, Beary was accused of corruption by a former subordinate turned political rival in the 2004 sheriff's race and a local television news station. This resulted in an audit of homeland security spending by his department.[5] Beary was later cleared of any wrongdoing by a Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation.[6] 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 was 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.[7] In July 2009 Beary pleaded guilty to violating Florida ethics laws. He was fined a total of $20,000 and 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.[citation needed]
In 2008, Beary had 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. Demings won the election and relieved Beary in a ceremony on January 5, 2009.
References
- ^ a b https://books.google.ca/books?id=qkZ4XCXIa9YC&pg=PA27&lpg=PA27&dq=kevin+beary+1957&source=bl&ots=FS8Lo-HM0_&sig=JKE6zrLXIMq4yuMDUjpnORftnkk&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjg7Z_igp3QAhUJ7YMKHY4wCmUQ6AEINjAE#v=onepage&q=kevin%20beary%201957&f=false
- ^ Klatt, Kelly (April 11, 2010). "VETERAN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND TERRORISM EXPERT JOINS ORLANDO, FLA.-BASED PROFESSIONAL SECURITY CONSULTING FIRM". Center for Security Solutions. Center for Security Solutions, Inc. Retrieved April 19, 2016.
- ^ Tom Leithauser, Demoted Woman Accuses Beary Of Sexual Bias, Orlando Sentinel, December 23, 1993 http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1993-12-23/news/9312230747_1_demotion-beary-scholer
- ^ Tom Leithauser, Sheriff Settles Sexism Lawsuit, Orlando Sentinel September 20, 1995 http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1995-09-20/news/9509200332_1_scholer-sheriff-kevin-beary-sheriff-office
- ^ "Sheriff Kevin Beary May Have Violated Ethics Codes". CFNews13. February 1, 2007. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved 2007-02-02.
- ^ "Florida AP News Story Beary cleared". AP. October 15, 2005. Retrieved 2007-03-24.
- ^ [1][permanent dead link]
External links
- Orange County Sheriff's Office
- February 2007 Ethics report notes "Beary may have violated the code of ethics"