The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation Celebrates National Police Week 2023
May 19, 2023
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – This week, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) proudly celebrates National Police Week, which honors and recognizes the sworn law enforcement officers who have dedicated their lives to keeping civilians safe.
DBPR is proud to have the second oldest law enforcement agency in the State of Florida, the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco (ABT) Bureau of Law Enforcement, which celebrated its 90th anniversary on Monday, May 8, 2023.
“It is with great pride and gratitude that DBPR celebrates National Police Week and thanks all of the law enforcement officers in the state who keep each of us safe every day,” said DBPR Secretary Melanie S. Griffin. “Governor DeSantis leads the way in supporting our state’s brave law enforcement officers, including ABT’s 105 sworn officers, and ensures they have the resources they need to keep Floridians, businesses and visitors protected. The work our officers do is both physically and emotionally demanding, and we appreciate their heroic efforts and dedication to the great State of Florida.”
Under the leadership of Governor DeSantis, DBPR is one state agency tasked with the important initiative of protecting Americans from human trafficking. To combat this unfortunate, evolving crime, ABT Law Enforcement actively investigates the nexus between licensees and human trafficking. The Bureau has been a vital part of several federal human trafficking cases in recent months, identifying hundreds of potential victims from human trafficking.
During the past year, ABT Enforcement has kept Floridians and businesses safe by:
- Planning and executing more than 9,800 stings, including:
- More than 5,600 for alcohol-related incidents,
- Nearly 4,000 for tobacco-related incidents, and
- Almost 250 for nicotine-related incidents;
- Identifying nearly 60 violations for illegally selling alcohol without a license;
- Reporting more than 280 violations for selling a tobacco product to a person under the age of 21; and
- Catching nearly 900 violations for the sale of alcohol to a person under 21.
To learn more about ABT’s Bureau of Law Enforcement, visit MyFloridaLicense.com.
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The Department of Business and Professional Regulation licenses and regulates more than 1.6 million businesses and professionals in the State of Florida across more than 30 fields of industry. The Department’s mission is to license efficiently and regulate fairly. For more information, visit MyFloridaLicense.com. Follow @FloridaDBPR on Twitter and Facebook, @Florida.DBPR on Instagram and Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation on LinkedIn for important information and updates on matters relating to Florida’s business and professional licensing.
