'Scumbags of the week': Sheriff, county power battle isn't new

Law enforcement on Volusia County beaches could change because of proposed legislation, which has set off an acrimonious debate between the sheriff and county beach officers.

But the tension between the Sheriff's Office and county officials over power isn't anything new. The matter is related to Amendment 10, which Florida voters approved in 2018.

Here's a look at the background on the issue and how the dots connect.

What was Amendment 10?

A constitutional amendment in Florida that voters passed in 2018. It mandated the election of the sheriff, property appraiser, tax collector, supervisor of elections and clerk of the circuit court in each county. It also gave more power to constitutional officers.

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What did that mean for Volusia County?

The county elected all of those officers already, except for the tax collector. Before Amendment 10 the county handled the tax collector's duties through its own revenue division under the authority of the county manager. Because of Amendment 10 Volusia County has an elected tax collector with separate management.

Amendment 10 gave the sheriff and other constitutional officers who were already elected control over their budgets and hiring practices.

How did the transition go?

The county filed legal challenges to Amendment 10 but lost. Officials argued that Amendment 10 shouldn't be retroactive and supersede the county's charter. They also raised concerns about the cost of changing county government operations.

Sheriff Mike Chitwood supported Amendment 10 and criticized county officials. He called members of the County Council "scumbags of the week" after they voted to seek an exemption in Amendment 10 for Volusia County.

What does this have to do with Volusia County's beach patrol?

Proposed legislation appears to be focused on clarifying powers of constitutional officers in the wake of Amendment 10.

The deadline for most counties to implement Amendment 10 has already passed, according to a legislative analysis. Miami-Dade and Broward counties have until January 7, 2025.

House Bill 1595 and Senate Bill 1588 say that only sheriffs have jurisdiction to operate law enforcement entities in unincorporated parts of the county.

That's where Volusia County's Beach Safety Division comes in.

Beach patrol officers in the division work Volusia County's beaches in cities and unincorporated areas. The sheriff is now poised to take over the beach patrol's law enforcement operations on the beaches if the proposed legislation goes through.

Why should I care who runs beach law enforcement?

Beach patrol has 58 officers who are triple certified as lifeguards, law enforcement officers and emergency medical technicians. Opponents of the sheriff taking over believe he would reduce the law enforcement presence on the beach and that public safety would be in danger.

The sheriff said in a News-Journal column that he would make beaches safer and he has options to make sure no one loses their jobs and benefits.

What's next?

County officials and Chitwood are developing a plan in case a law change goes through that would put the beach law enforcement in his hands. Details haven't been released yet.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: The battle over Volusia beaches connects to Amendment 10: What we know