Grimming for Sheriff!!!

On March 1, 1993, Ronald H. Grimming was selected as the new FHP Director. Colonel Grimming served more than 22 years with the Illinois State Police and came up through the ranks serving in a wide range of law enforcement services in that agency. He retired as the Deputy Director of the Division of State Troopers with the Illinois State Police.
Colonel Grimming became the first Director in FHP history to be selected from outside the ranks of the Florida Highway Patrol. Colonel Grimming brought many innovations to the agency as well as a national reputation of being a knowledgeable law enforcement administrator.
In April 1993, under the direction of Colonel Grimming, the Drug Interdiction Program was reactivated and reorganized. Colonel Grimming, noting Florida was still a primary entry point for the importation of illicit drugs, directed the troop commanders to reactivate the remaining felony teams and empowered troop commanders to intensify their patrol efforts to include detecting and apprehending motor vehicle drug couriers. Colonel Grimming gave new direction to the program by appointing a statewide interdiction coordinator and keeping the felony teams assigned to their respective troops.
Each team member receives specialized training relative to search and seizure, interdiction techniques, drug identification, and interview and interrogation as well as other specialized training.
They are cross designated as United States Customs Officers under the FHP agreement with the U. S. Customs and the Blue Lightning Strike Force. The 31 felony teams are comprised of 68 FHP specially trained troopers designed as felony officers.
The Patrol seeks out the best canines available pursuant to its stringent guidelines. Each canine handler and their assigned canine are trained and certified as a team pursuant to guidelines established by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Currently there are 39 canines on patrol.
After 50 years of tradition, the campaign hat introduced by Colonel H. Neil Kirkman, was changed to the "Smoky Bear" type hat which is black in color, providing a contrast that matches the epaulets and piping around the pockets.
In May of 1994, the Florida Highway Patrol was in for a change in hats. Studies showed the Campaign hat provided more protection from Florida's cancerous ultraviolet sun rays than other law enforcement hats. In addition, a 1989 Ball State University study of seven types of police uniform hats rated the Campaign hat #1 for providing officers with the most authoritative and commanding presence, and showed the wearing of uniform hats a positive effect on the public's image of police officers.
Being primarily a traffic oriented organization, the FHP has traditionally utilized fixed-wing aircraft for search, rescue, drug surveillance, and traffic patrol and enforcement. While there are ten (10) fixed wing planes still in use, the Patrol recognized that its role in other law enforcement functions was increasing and the need for another type of aircraft was needed to supplement our air operations resources.
Many of our fixed wing aircraft are equipped with Lo-Jack Stolen Vehicle Recovery Systems and have been responsible for the location and recovery of a record number of motor vehicles during this past year.
To compliment our flight section, we now have three Bell OH-58 A+, light observation jet turbine helicopters capable of operating at remote sites (off airport), at night and from a hover to 110 knots airspeed. The helicopters are LO-Jack equipped, have a 30,000 candlepower "Night Sun" spotlight system, and UHF/VHF and 800 megahertz radio systems for communication. The first such craft was assigned to Troop K.
The helicopters are used on patrol and for special details such as the Olympic Soccer Venue and the Valu Jet Flight 592 crash site. South Florida's A-17 played a major role in the recovery efforts, investigation, scene security, and other special assignments at the Valu Jet crash site.
They have conducted surveillance/photography missions for ATF in a domestic terrorism (militia) weapons case. Helicopters were used in Hurricane "Opal" relief efforts, Homestead and Daytona Race Details, and were instrumental in the apprehension of a suspect who had shot and mortally wounded a Ft. Lauderdale Police Officer.
In addition to the helicopter in south Florida, a second one is assigned to Troop B in Lake City and a third is assigned to Troop A in Pensacola. This latter ship is crewed in a cooperative effort between the FHP and Escambia County Sheriff's Office. The pilot is a FHP Flight Officer and the observer is an Escambia County Deputy Sheriff.
Our aircraft section is a force multiplier and assists and provides air support for our troopers throughout the state. Funding for conversion of the helicopters was obtained from the Turnpike Authority, Department of Corrections, and the Escambia County Sheriff's Department.
Another challenge facing the agency was the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) in which the Patrol began the long enduring process under the leadership of Colonel Bobby R. Burkett, it gained prominence nationally by becoming the 13th state police/highway patrol agency to achieve national accreditation.

i hear he did a lot of good things for the patrol. he's got my vote.

You hear he did good things for the Patrol, can you enlighten me, and why is he not still their if he was so great?

Check the post about Ron Grimming on the FHP forum under his name. Wow impressive

Ron Grimming will be the best thing that EVER happened to the Highlands County SO. Just contact him and have a chat - you will see!

And what about Mike Brown.

You hear he did good things for the Patrol, can you enlighten me, and why is he not still their if he was so great?

He got fired for pissing off the sheriffs by trying to create a state police with troopers. He's from Illinois and hates GOBs. That's most of us.

Do you have documentation or newspaper articles to back this up? I have searched and have found nothing about him pissing anyone off or getting fired.
Have you ever spoken to this man?
I feel that you are listening to idle gossip and people who just are afraid to be made to do their jobs.

The previous poster is correct. Those who work for Grimming are or will be held accountable to do their job. There will be no Good ole Boy or even Good ole Girl system. It will be an agency of professional Officers that are hired to do a job. If you read Grimming's resume you will see he is the Colonel that got FHP accredated. Talk to anyone who knows or has worked under him they will tell you he is an open book with an open door. The next 10 months will show it. Give him a call...

THANK YOU ACCOUNTABLE!
I have found his site that he is using to run for office.

www.rongrimming.com

It seems to me that people from a place that they run for office mean well, but then people may have something from their past to hold over their heads to get what they want. I feel that Ron Grimming is not from here and he will have no problem enforcing all policies and rewarding those who follow and go above their call to duty. He would not be able to be waivered about anything, no matter who it was.