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A bill to be entitled

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An act relating to the City of Belle Glade; providing for

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the relief of Willie Police, III, Cora Donaldson, Willie

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Police, Sr., and the Estate of Willie Police, Jr.;

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authorizing and directing the City of Belle Glade to

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compensate them for injuries suffered as a result of the

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death of Willie Police, Jr., due to the negligence of

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employees of the city; providing a limitation on the

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payment of fees and costs; providing an effective date.

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     WHEREAS, on February 13, 1993, Willie Police, Jr., who was

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17 years of age, and a friend attended a dance that was being

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held at the Civic Center in Belle Glade, and

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     WHEREAS, while the two friends were standing in the parking

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lot after the dance, a disturbance began as a result of which

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both Willie Police and his friend were shot, and Willie died at

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the scene, and

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     WHEREAS, the group that sponsored the dance allegedly did

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not have permission to use the civic center and had broken into

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the center that night and held the party without the permission

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of the city, and

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     WHEREAS, 1 week before the dance, the group had passed out

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flyers inviting the public to the event, and

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     WHEREAS, police were called to the scene because of the

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noise created by the party, and, although police officers did

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respond to the call and go to the party, they did not check to

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see whether the group was legitimately using the civic center and

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they did not speak to any person in charge, nor did they check to

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see whether there was any security provided for the party, and

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     WHEREAS, the testimony of city officials and the police

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revealed that any time a party is held at the civic center

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security is to be provided by either the city or the person who

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gives the party, and

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     WHEREAS, the testimony further showed that such a party is

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always recorded on the books of the city, and the city then

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informs the police department of the party, and

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     WHEREAS, the Belle Glade Police Department never checked

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with the city nor with anyone else about this party, even after

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noise complaints were registered, and, if they had checked, they

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would have shut down the party because it was not a scheduled

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event and there was no security, and

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     WHEREAS, at the time of his death, Willie Police, Jr., was

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the father of a 3-year-old son, Willie Police, III, who has been

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deprived of the support and companionship of his father, and

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     WHEREAS, Willie Police, Jr.'s, parents, Cora Donaldson and

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Willie Police, Sr., have been deprived of the services and

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companionship of their son, NOW, THEREFORE,

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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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     Section 1. The facts stated in the preamble to this act are

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found and declared to be true.

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     Section 2. The City of Belle Glade is authorized and

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directed to compensate Willie Police, III, Cora Donaldson, Willie

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Police, Sr., and the Estate of Willie Police, Jr., out of funds

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of the city not otherwise appropriated, in the amount of

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$381,649.10 for injuries and damages sustained as a result of the

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death of Willie Police, Jr.

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     Section 3. This award is intended to provide the sole

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compensation for all present and future claims arising out of the

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factual situation described in this act which resulted in the

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death of Willie Police, Jr. The total amount paid for attorney's

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fees, lobbying fees, costs, and other similar expenses relating

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to this claim may not exceed 25 percent of the amount awarded

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under this act.

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     Section 4.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.