Change in Power

“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” – Mahatma Gandhi

By the 1960s, the American Civil Rights Movement was well under way, and people cried for change, especially in the realm of law enforcement.  Change came early to Florida as Governor LeRoy Collins responded to Brown v. Board of Education and the Groveland incident.  Collins took steps to modernize law enforcement policies and balance power by increasing cooperation between state and local officers. Lawsuits against policemen for the mistreatment of prisoners spurned officials to develop new standards for jail administration and training for police officers.  Sheriffs also looked for new ways to serve their communities.