Sheriff Chip Simmons asked the Escambia Children’s Trust to fund a virtual reality training simulator – cost $152,201.14 – along with movie nights, public service announcements and a Real Time Crime Center.
At its meeting earlier this month, Board member David Peaden asked Ronnie Rivera of the sheriff’s office about the Law Enforcement Trust Fund (LET Fund).”That’s drug money or seizures that y’all get to keep and spend on certain programs?”
Rivera replied, “Yes, sir” but did not elaborate. Chief Deputy Tommi Lyter said the fund doesn’t have a big budget but didn’t share its budget.
Law Enforcement Trust Fund dollars can be spent as follows, according to state law:
Such proceeds and interest earned therefrom shall be used for
– school resource officer,
– crime prevention,
– safe neighborhood,
– drug abuse education and prevention programs,
– or for other law enforcement purposes, which include defraying the cost of protracted or complex investigations, providing additional equipment or expertise, purchasing automated external defibrillators for use in law enforcement vehicles, and providing matching funds to obtain federal grants.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office doled out $196,600 from the LET Fund to local charities in 2022. It also kept a siezed Corvette for recruitment purposes- estimated value $84,000.
Had he chosen to spend LET funds on law enforcement purposes, Sheriff Simmons would have had plenty of money for the virtual reality simulator and could have put $127,799 toward the Real Time Crime Center that costs $190,000.
This is how Sheriff Simmons spent the LET money this year:
Jan: $36,000
A. Mr. Robbins Neighborhood, in the amount of $10,000;
B. Sacred Heart Foundation, in the amount of $5,000; and
C. Opening Doors NWFL, in the amount of $5,000.
A. General Daniel “Chappie” James Flight Academy, Inc., in the amount of $5,000;
B. Brownsville Assembly of God Church, in the amount of $3,000;
C. Independence for the Blind of NWF, Inc., in the amount of $2,000; and
D. Waterfront Rescue Mission, Inc., in the amount of $6,000.
Feb: $10,000
A. Robinson Harris Academy of Music, Inc., in the amount of $2,000;
B. Pensacola Area Chamber Foundation, in the amount of $3,000;
C. IHMC, in the amount of $1,000; and
D. East Pensacola Student Athlete Program, in the amount of $4,000.
March: $13,500
A. West Florida High School Softball Boosters, Inc., in the amount of $1,500;
B. Pensacola Alumni Charity Foundation, Inc., in the amount of $10,000; and
C. Ensley Youth Sports Association Inc., in the amount of $2,000.
April: $20,000
A. Teen Challenge Pensacola, in the amount of $1,000;
B. Gulf Coast Kid’s House, in the amount of $15,000; and
C. Booker T. Washington High School Project Graduation, in the amount of $1,000
A. Pensacola Chapter Military Officers Association of America, in the amount of $1,000; and
B. Society of St. Vincent de Paul, in the amount of $2,000
May: $16,000
A. The Her Foundation Inc., in the amount of $1,000;
B. Tate High School Football, in the amount of $3,000;
C. Iron Men Outdoor Ministries, in the amount of $1,000;
D. Tate High School Booster Club, in the amount of $250; and
E. Change Tomorrow Today 365, in the amount of $1,000.
A. Bellview Youth Association, in the amount of $750;
B. Pensacola Storm Elite, in the amount of $500;
C. Center for Independent Living of Northwest Florida, Inc., in the amount of $2,500; and
D. Youths Left Behind Corp., in the amount of $6,000
June: $5,500
A. Pensacola Futbol Club, Inc., in the amount of $500; and
B. Pensacola State College Foundation, Inc., in the amount of $5,000
July: $12,000
A. AMIkids Pensacola Inc. in the amount of $9,000; and
B. Cantonment Football Club Inc. in the amount of $3,000.
Aug: $15,900
A. Re-Entry Alliance Pensacola, Inc., in the amount of $600;
B. United Way of West Florida in the amount of $8,000; and
C. Sacred Heart Foundation in the amount of $5,000
A. Council on Aging of West Florida in the amount of $5,000;
B. My Brothers and Sisters in the amount of $2,000;
C. Masonic Charities of Florida, Inc., in the amount of $1,000; and
D. University of West Florida Foundation, Inc., in the amount of $1,500.
Oct: $4,200
A. Escambia County Sheriff Foundation, Inc., in the amount of $4,000; and
B. Perdido Bay Futbol Club, Inc., in the amount of $200.
Nov:$23,000
A. The PYC Satori Foundation in the amount of $1,000; and
B. West Florida High School Baseball Booster Club in the amount of $2,000;
C. Health & Hope Clinic in the amount of $10,000, and
D. Southern Youth Sports Association in the amount of $10,000
Dec: $40,500
A. West Florida High School Quarterback Club in the amount of $1,500;
B. Arc Gateway Foundation, Inc., in the amount of $5,000;
C. Onbikes Pensacola, Inc., in the amount of $5,000;
D. Escambia County Public Schools Foundation in the amount of $5,000;
E. Pace Center for Girls in the amount of $20,000;
F. Booker T. Washington High School Girls Soccer Boosters in the amount of $1,500; and
G. Greater Pensacola Junior Golf Association, Inc., in the amount of $4,000.
Unlike the Escambia Children’s Trust, the sheriff’s office keeps no data on the effectiveness of the organizations receiving handouts.