ABT is getting rid of sworn positions

To those of you who don't have too many years here in this agency, run!!! The rumor at DBPR/ABT is they are getting rid of several existing sworn positions and converting those to investigative specialists slots.

Ultimately, the Division will disappear and the enforcement efforts, such as "minors" will go to the locals. The administrative investigations could be done by the investigative specialists, just like Hotels and Restaurants does.

Not a bad idea. Just take the emotions out of this and you can see the logic in converting LE positions to nonsworn. 85% of the average agents work day is spent on administrative matters. Let's do the math -
.85 X 20 (average number of productive hours per week) = 17 hours. Now figure the cost per hour for a law enforcement officer to do admin work -
$15.50 an hour for 3% multiplier
$2.00 an hour for take home car
$1.25 an hour for equipment
$19.00 an hour for base wages

By my conservative calculations that comes to $37.75 an hour to do the work of a $15.75 an hour inspector. That is the hazard of being a law enforcement officer in a department that is regulatory. The "circling of the bowl" occured when the Beverage Department ceased to exsist. Law enforcement positions will become more difficult to justify just based on economics.

To those of you who don't have too many years here in this agency, run!!! The rumor at DBPR/ABT is they are getting rid of several existing sworn positions and converting those to investigative specialists slots.

Ultimately, the Division will disappear and the enforcement efforts, such as "minors" will go to the locals. The administrative investigations could be done by the investigative specialists, just like Hotels and Restaurants does.

With the Jokes ABT has that they call law enforcement, the agency should be converted to non-sworn. I have never seen a bunch of malcontents in my life. Even FHP dont have it like ABT. The state would be in a much better position to get rid of the sowrn in ABT.

On a positive note, the ex-troopers that are now abt agents could probably get their old jobs back. Hell, they can even take their smokey bear hat with them.

I can't discredit what anyone's heard, but I still doubt it. When we had our powers reduced, it would have been far easier to do away with sworn positions, and yet they didn't. The one reason this agency still exists is the industry wants it to. Do they want to have several hundred LE agencies enforcing the baverage law, or do they want one? Yes, any LE agency can enforce it, but they don't have the same responsibility or centralized method in place. By having ABT around, the industry can better control what they want; their word will count more with ABT than it will with a local department.

Maybe I'm wrong, but only time will tell.

What will probably happen is through attrition and reclassifying those jobs when Agents do leave to non-sworn, the actual numbers for sworn positions will be decreased, but not completely done away with. The industry won't let it happen. Same with the State Fire Mashal and Insurance Fraud guys....they only exist for the Insurance industry, that's who helped create those agencies, just like the industry has helped support ours. If you want to stay, just keep pushing forward, if not, good luck...

Everything comes and goes. The Division has been bigger and smaller but it doesn't mean it's going away. The way I see it, more non-sworn means a better support system for the exsisting agents. Its the agents who only know how to do inspections that should be worried!!!

On a positive note, the ex-troopers that are now abt agents could probably get their old jobs back. Hell, they can even take their smokey bear hat with them.

Not...that is why we are stuck with them. They were sorry there and are sorry here! From writing speeders to investigations...go figure!

Everything comes and goes. The Division has been bigger and smaller but it doesn't mean it's going away. The way I see it, more non-sworn means a better support system for the exsisting agents. Its the agents who only know how to do inspections that should be worried!!!

Which are the majority. Hec, most cannot spell to right a decent report!

You are a funny guy. "Right" instead of "write." "Hec" instead of "heck."

I can't discredit what anyone's heard, but I still doubt it. When we had our powers reduced, it would have been far easier to do away with sworn positions, and yet they didn't. The one reason this agency still exists is the industry wants it to. Do they want to have several hundred LE agencies enforcing the baverage law, or do they want one? Yes, any LE agency can enforce it, but they don't have the same responsibility or centralized method in place. By having ABT around, the industry can better control what they want; their word will count more with ABT than it will with a local department.

Maybe I'm wrong, but only time will tell.

Your right...the industry tells the current administration what to do, when to do it, what to enforce, what not to....and so on! Corruption at its best.

Like ot or not, politics play a role in every law enforcement agency. You're either running radar on some city manager's street or you're writing seatbelt tickets because MADD say's it saves lives. Agencies look past drug traffickers because some community organization wants peddlers off the street corners............its everywhere!!!

We can't control political pressures or even our administration's reactions to them. What we can do is put forth an honest best effort in what we've been tasked to do!!

Like ot or not, politics play a role in every law enforcement agency. You're either running radar on some city manager's street or you're writing seatbelt tickets because MADD say's it saves lives. Agencies look past drug traffickers because some community organization wants peddlers off the street corners............its everywhere!!!

We can't control political pressures or even our administration's reactions to them. What we can do is put forth an honest best effort in what we've been tasked to do!!

Sure you can..when your top leaders have "ethics," "honesty," and "integrity." (I dont mean by creating a phony "mission" and "vision statement either). With the current top, be careful who you cite...stay away from companies that gross above $5,000,000.00 a year and business that appear in the "Bottomline" or rep'ed by certain "consultants."

ABT should have been disbanded 20 years ago. It is useless and a major burden on the tax payers of the State of Florida. If tax payers new what really goes on.............NOTHING.......they would be screaming to their legislators to disband the entire Division.

ABT should have been disbanded 20 years ago. It is useless and a major burden on the tax payers of the State of Florida. If tax payers new what really goes on.............NOTHING.......they would be screaming to their legislators to disband the entire Division.

I work, excuse me, I am employed at AB&T and agree. Useless. But what do you expect have you seen the "contribution list?!" Or heard about who is friends with who?! Or whose the godfather over whose children?! Or about the newest hire and about the one that is being hired next?

ABT should have been disbanded 20 years ago. It is useless and a major burden on the tax payers of the State of Florida. If tax payers new what really goes on.............NOTHING.......they would be screaming to their legislators to disband the entire Division.

I work, excuse me, I am employed at AB&T and agree. Useless. But what do you expect have you seen the "contribution list?!" Or heard about who is friends with who?! Or whose the godfather over whose children?! Or about the newest hire and about the one that is being hired next?

very true

They need to get rid of the sworn, and the corrupt Holly and Dranko!

Ok, this topic was of particular interest to me. Why did we ever stop talking about it? Wake up people, this is the revolution and we need to rise up and bash.

ABT should have been disbanded 20 years ago. It is useless and a major burden on the tax payers of the State of Florida. If tax payers new what really goes on.............NOTHING.......they would be screaming to their legislators to disband the entire Division.

We generate money for DCF, so that’s something. By the way, it is KNEW not NEW.

Ok, this topic was of particular interest to me. Why did we ever stop talking about it? Wake up people, this is the revolution and we need to rise up and bash.

Bash what friend?? You think you can change the legislature and the way they want our agencies to run? Wake up people....other than fhp, fwc, dot and maybe the dep park guys...all state leo's are on the bubble. PBA can't do squat except whine with the rest of us.

Imagine this...no sworn agents with fdle, abt, fire marshal, insurance fraud and any other non-uniformed agency I may have not mentioned. Ask this question...does the state really suffer if there aren't any sworn people at these agencies?? The true answer is no and that's why we're all gonna be answering the question - why are you here and can your job be done without sworn people...and again the unfortunate answer is yes. Truth is locals can do everything we all do. If any of you left a local SO or PD within the last six months to a year...I'd be checking to see if you could go back...word is since salaries are 80-90 percent of everyone's budget....jobs might be next and the folks on the bottom of the deck go first.