ORANGE COUNTY, Fla.,None — A captain with the Orange County Sheriff's Office is under investigation by the Orange-Osceola State Attorney's Office after he allegedly released confidential information to state senators.
Captain Mike Fewless went before the Senate Judiciary Committee in Tallahassee last week to voice his disdain for State Bill 234. The bill would allow concealed weapons license holders to carry firearms openly.
"Please defeat this terrible bill," Fewless said during the meeting.
But, it is what Fewless did before the meeting that sparked controversy.
"I actually stopped by every one of your guy's offices this morning and dropped off seven photographs of some biker outlaw gang guys that have carry and concealed firearm permits," Fewless said to the committee.
That has upset a gun rights group called FloridaCarry.org. The group claims Fewless violated state law for releasing the information, which is supposed to be kept private. It filed a complaint with the State Attorney's Office shortly after the remarks.
Florida State Statute 790.0601 is in regards to public records exemption for concealed weapons. It states: Personal identifying information of an individual who has applied for or received a license to carry a concealed weapon or firearm pursuant to s. 790.06 held by the Division of Licensing of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution.
Fewless, who is part of the Sheriff's Office lobbying team, continued: "The people I dropped off at your office - they will strap one to their hip!"
The executive director of FloridaCarry.org is disturbed.
"It's very problematic that law enforcement officers are using a secure database for lobby purposes," Sean Caranna told WFTV over the phone.
In 2006, WFTV published names of people who carry concealed weapons in the state online. Later, the state legislature required that information to be kept confidential.
A Orange County Sheriff's Office spokesman said the agency is conducting an administrative review of Fewless's actions.