STATE OF FLORIDA

DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS

JAMES BATTLE, )

)

Petitioner, )

)

and )

) METROPOLITAN DADE COUNTY, )

)

Intervenor, )

)

vs. ) CASE NO. 88-6415

) FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF LAW ) ENFORCEMENT, CRIMINAL )

JUSTICE STANDARDS AND )

TRAINING COMMISSION, )

)

Respondent. )

)

RECOMMENDED ORDER

Pursuant to notice, the Division of Administrative Hearings, by its duly designated Hearing Officer, William J. Kendrick, held a formal hearing in the above-styled case on April 4, 1989, in Miami, Florida.

APPEARANCES

For Petitioner: James C. Casey, Esquire

Senior Staff Attorney Dade County P.B.A.

10680 N.W. 25th Street Miami, Florida 33172

For Respondent: Joseph S. White, Esquire

Florida Department of Thaw Enforcement

Post Office Box 1489 Tallahassee, Florida 32302

For Intervenor: Lee Kraftchick, Esquire

Assistant County Attorney Metro Dade Center

111 N.W. 1st Street Suite 2810

Miami, Florida 33128 STATEMENT OF THE ISSUES

At issue in this proceeding is whether petitioner possesses the requisite good moral character for certification as a correctional officer.

PRELIMINARY STATEMENT

The record in the instant case consists of the testimony and exhibits offered at the hearing held on April 4, 1989, as well as the generic record developed during the course of hearing on April 3-4, 1989. At the hearing held on April 4, 1989, petitioner testified on his own behalf, and called Leroy Little, Maysusan Jones, and Kevin Hickey as witnesses. Petitioner's exhibits 1-

6 were received into evidence. Respondent called no witnesses, but its exhibit

1 was received into evidence. The generic record developed during the course of hearing on April 3-4, 1989, consists of the testimony of Fred Crawford, Sandra Milton, Danny Quick, Louviena Lee and Kevin Hickey, as well as Hearing Officer exhibits 1-38, petitioners' exhibit 1, respondent's exhibit 1, and intervenor's exhibit 1. 1/

At the parties' request, a deadline was established for filing proposed findings of fact or other post hearing submissions that was more than ten days after the filing of the transcript in May 1989. Consequently, the parties waived the requirement that a recommended order be rendered within thirty days after the transcript is filed. Rule 22I-6.31, Florida Administrative Code. The parties' proposed findings have been addressed in the appendix to this recommended order.

FINDINGS OF FACT

Background

1. In June 1988, respondent, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission (Commission), acting on a tip from the local media that intervenor, Metropolitan Dade County, Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (County), had in its employ a number of corrections officers who were not certified, undertook a review of the County's employment records. Following a comparison of the County's records and those of the Commission, the Commission identified 363 individuals, including the petitioner, who were employed by the County as correctional officers but who had not been certified by the Commission.

   
   

2. On August 10-11, 1988, Commission personnel visited the County's personnel office, and audited the personnel file of each of the 363 individuals in question. The audit demonstrated that the files were disorganized, lacking documentation required by Rule 11B-27.002, Florida Administrative Code, to apply for certification, and that the County had failed to apply for certification on behalf of the 363 officers. 2/

   
   

3. Over the course of their two-day visit, the Commission's personnel set up an "assembly line" and, together with the County's staff, attempted to complete the documentation on each file. Variously, registration forms and affidavits of compliance were prepared, and birth certificates, fingerprint cards and other missing documentation was assembled.

   
   

4. On August 12, 1988, the Commission's personnel returned to Tallahassee with the subject registration forms and affidavits of compliance. Over the course of time, these applications were processed and the vast majority of the individuals were certified; however, the Commission declined, for reasons hereinafter discussed, to certify petitioner.

   The pending application

   
   

5. Petitioner, James Battle (Battle), has been employed by the County as a correctional officer since June 1988, without benefit of certification.

   
   

6. On August 10, 1988, as a consequence of the aforementioned audit, the County, as the employing agency, applied for certification on behalf of Battle. 3/ Accompanying the application (registration) was an affidavit of compliance, dated August 10, 1988, signed by Fred Crawford, Director of Metropolitan Dade County, Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, which comported with existing law and which certified that such employing agency had collected, verified, and was maintaining on file evidence that Battle had met the provisions of Section 943.13(1)-(8), and Section 943.131, Florida Statutes, or any rules adopted pursuant thereto. Among the provision of section 943.13 is the requirement that the applicant be of good moral character.

   
   

7. By letter dated November 1, 1988, the Commission notified Battle and the County that his application for certification as a correctional officer was denied for lack of good moral character because:

   
   

   You have unlawfully and knowingly possessed and introduced into your body cannabis.

   
   

8. Following receipt of the Commission's letter of denial, Battle filed a timely request for a formal hearing pursuant to Section 120.57(1), Florida Statutes. In his request for hearing, Battle denied that he failed to possess the requisite good moral character necessary for certification.

   
   

   Good moral character

   
   

9. Pursuant to Rule 11B-27.0011, Florida Administrative Code, the County, as the employing agency, is responsible for conducting a thorough background investigation to determine the moral character of an applicant. Consistent with such mandate, the County routinely uses previous employment data, law enforcement records, credit agency record, inquiries of the applicant's neighbors and associates, and a pre-employment interview, at which a polygraph examination is administered, to assess an applicant's moral character.

   
   

10. In assessing an applicant's character, the County is bound by the provisions of Rule 11B-27.0011(2), Florida Administrative Code, which provides:

    
    

    The unlawful use of any of the controlled substances enumerated in Rule 11B-27.00225 by an applicant for

    certification, employment, or appointment at any time proximate to such application for certification, employment, or appointment conclusively establishes that the applicant is not of good moral character as required by Section 943.13(7). The unlawful use of any of the controlled substances enumerated in Rule 11B-27.00225 by an applicant at any time remote from and not proximate to such application may or may not conclusively establish that the applicant is not of good moral character, as required by Section 943.13(7), depending upon the type of

    controlled substance used, the frequency of use, and the age of the applicant at the time of use. Nothing herein is intended, however, to restrict the construction of Section 943.13(7), only to such controlled substance use.

    
    

    The substances enumerated in rule 11B-27.00225 are amphetamines, barbiturates, cannabis (marijuana), opiates, cocaine, phencyclidine, benzodiazepines, and methaqualone.

    
    

11. Pertinent to this case, the County undertook a pre-employment interview of Battle on December 18, 1987, at which time he admitted that he had used marijuana. Regarding such use, the proof demonstrates that during the years 1982 and 1983, while a junior and senior in high school, Battle used marijuana approximately 15 times. He has not used marijuana since his graduation from high school in 1983, and has never used any other form of controlled substance.

    
    

12. Notwithstanding the County's conclusion, based on its investigation and analysis of Battle's background, that Battle possessed the requisite good moral character for employment and certification, the Commission proposed to deny certification based on his isolated use of marijuana during high school. The Commission's action is unwarranted.

    
    

13. Here, Battle, born May 18, 1965, used marijuana approximately 15 times, the last time being over 6 years ago when he was 18 years of age and a senior in high school. He has not used marijuana since, and has never used any other form of controlled substance. Such isolated and dated usage can hardly be termed proximate or frequent within the meaning of rule 11B-27.0011(2), or persuasive evidence of bad moral character. 4/

    
    

14. To date, Battle has been employed by the County as a corrections officer, a position of trust and confidence, for approximately one year. His evaluations have been satisfactory, and his periodic drug screenings have all met with negative results. By those who know of him, he is considered an excellent employee, observant of the rules, honest, fair and respectful of the rights of others.

    
    

15. Prior to his employment as a corrections officer, and following his graduation from high school, Battle has been continuously employed. Additionally, he has served in the National Guard for almost five years, and attained the rank of E3.

    
    

16. Overall, Battle has demonstrated that he possessed the requisite good moral character when he was employed by the County as a correctional officer, and has demonstrated in this de novo proceeding that he currently possesses the requisite good moral character for certification.

    CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

    
    

17. The Division of Administrative Hearings has jurisdiction over the parties to, and the subject matter of, these proceedings.

    
    

18. The ultimate burden of persuasion as to whether an application for certification as a correctional officer should be approved rests with the applicant. See Rule 28-6.08(3), Florida Administrative Code, and Florida Department of Transportation v. J.W.C., Co., 396 So.2d 778 (Fla. 1st DCA 1981).

    
    

19. Section 943.13, Florida Statutes, establishes the minimum qualifications for certification, employment or appointment of a correctional officer. Pertinent to this case, that section provides:

    
    

    (7) Have a good moral character....

    
    

20. For purposes of assessing an applicant's good moral character, the Commission has adopted Rule 11B-27.0011, Florida Administrative Code, which provides:

    
    

    (2) The unlawful use of any of the controlled substances enumerated in Rule 11B-27.00225 by an applicant for

    certification, employment, or appointment at any time proximate to such application for certification, employment, or appointment conclusively establishes that the applicant is not of good moral character as required by Section 943.13(7). The unlawful use of any of the controlled substances enumerated in Rule 11B-27.00225 by an applicant at any time remote from and not proximate to such application may or may not conclusively establish that the applicant is not of good moral character, as required by Section 943.13(7), depending upon the type of controlled substance used, the frequency of use, and the age of the applicant at the time of use. Nothing herein is intended, however, to restrict the construction of Section 943.13(7) only to such controlled substance use.

    
    

    The substances enumerated in rule 11B-27.00225 are amphetamines, barbiturates, cannabis (marijuana), opiates, cocaine, phencyclidine, benzodiazepines, and methaqualone.

    
    

21. Apart from rule 11B-27.0011, the Commission has adopted no rule that establishes the standards by which the good moral character of an applicant are to be assessed. Existent case law does, however, provide some guidance.

22. Where, as here, the offending conduct is not of itself a disqualifier to licensure, the courts have long recognized that what constitutes good moral character is a matter to be developed by the facts. 5/ Zemour, Inc. v. Division of Beverage, 347 So.2d 1102 (Fla. 1st DCA 1977) and White v. Beary, 237 So.2d

    263 (Fla. 1st DCA 1970). In Zemour, Inc. v. Division of Beverages, supra, at page 1105, the court concluded:

    
    

    Moral character... means not only the ability to distinguish between right and wrong, but the character to observe the difference; the observance of the rules of right conduct, and conduct which indicates and establishes the qualities generally acceptable to the populace for positions of trust and confidence. An isolated unlawful act [that does not by statute or rule specifically disqualify a person from licensure] or acts of indiscretion wherever committed do not necessarily establish bad moral character. But ... repeated acts in violation of law wherever committed and generally condemned by law abiding people, over a long period of time, evinces the sort of mind and establishes the sort of character that... should not be entrusted with a... license.

    
    

    And, in Florida Board of Bar Examiners v. G.W.L., 364 So.2d 454, 458 (Fla. 1987), the court concluded:

    
    

    ... a finding of a lack of "good moral character" should not be restricted to those acts that reflect moral turpitude. A more appropriate definition of the phrase requires an inclusion of acts and conduct which would cause a reasonable man to have substantial doubts about an individual's honesty, fairness, and respect for the rights of others and for the laws of the state and nation.

    
    

23. Here, Battle has demonstrated, as required by law, that he possesses the requisite good moral character for employment and certification as a correctional officer, and his limited use of marijuana during his youth does not detract from such showing.

RECOMMENDATION

Based on the foregoing findings of fact and conclusions of law, it is RECOMMENDED that the application of petitioner, James Battle, for

certification as a correctional officer be approved.

DONE AND ENTERED in Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida, this 20th day of June, 1989.

WILLIAM J. KENDRICK

Hearing Officer

Division of Administrative Hearings The DeSoto Building

1230 Apalachee Parkway

Tallahassee, FL 32399-1550

(904) 488-9675

Filed with the Clerk of the Division of Administrative Hearings this 20th day of June, 1989.

ENDNOTES

1/ The application of petitioner for certification as a correctional officer was but one of thirty-seven applications that were scheduled to be heard commencing on April 3, 1989. At that time, perceiving that the testimony of certain witnesses would be common to most applicants, the parties agreed to develop a generic record that would, pertinent to this case, be utilized in addition to the proof offered individually on behalf of the petitioner.

2/ Variously, some files contained the original registration and original affidavit of compliance that must be submitted to the Commission for certification, some files were totally missing registrations and affidavits of compliance, and some files were missing birth certificates, fingerprint cards and other documentation required for certification. Overall, none of the files contained the documentation required by law for certification.

3/ At hearing, Battle contended that an earlier application had been submitted to the Commission which, because of inaction, had been approved pursuant to Section 120.60(2), Florida Statutes. The proof fails, however, to support the conclusion that any application, other than that of August 10, 1988, was submitted to the Commission on behalf of Battle. Notable to this conclusion is the lack of any evidence demonstrating that any other affidavit of compliance or affidavit of applicant had been executed, as well as the disorganization of the County's records and the lack of reliability in its personnel practices. Here, the Commission provided the County with semi-annual reports from 1985 through 1988, which listed each officer its records showed employed by the County. The County, under existing law, was charged with the responsibility of reviewing such reports and advising the Commission of any changes that had occurred. The County failed to do so at any time between 1985 and 1988.

As additional support for his contention that an earlier application was submitted to the Commission, petitioner contended that the County routinely mailed applications in bulk upon completion of each academy class, and that such routine practice supports the conclusion that petitioner's application was previously submitted. Such contention is rejected in this case since the County's personnel practices do not possess the necessary reliability to render such proof persuasive and because there was no showing that an application for certification had been submitted on behalf of any member of petitioner's class prior to August 10, 1988.

4/ Under the provisions of rule 11B-27.0011(2), the use of a controlled substance does not conclusively establish that an applicant lacks the good moral character necessary for certification unless such use was proximate" to his application. The Commission has not defined the term "proximate," and offered no proof at hearing as to what it considers "proximate" usage within the meaning of rule 11B-27.0011(2). Variously, the law enforcement agencies of the state have been left with no definitive guideline from the Commission, and have adopted various standards. Pertinent to this case, Dade County has adopted a term of one year as the standard by which it gauges the "proximate" use of a controlled substance to an application for employment. Under such policy, an applicant who has refrained from such use for at least one year preceding application will not be automatically rejected as lacking good moral character. Rather, the applicant's entire background will be evaluated to determine whether he currently possess the requisite moral character for employment.

Commission of offenses, unless they result in a felony conviction or a misdemeanor conviction involving perjury or false statement, do not bar employment or certification as a correctional officer, unless they demonstrate bad moral character. Section 943.13, Florida Statutes. Consistent with existent law, and the past practices of the Commission, the County does not automatically reject an applicant who has been convicted of a misdemeanor that does not involve perjury or false statement, or who has committed an offense that did not result in a felony conviction, but evaluates the applicant's entire background to determine whether the applicant currently possesses the requisite moral character for employment.

5/ Pertinent to this case, the only specified disqualifer to licensure is Section 943.13, Florida Statutes, which provides:

On or after October 1, 1984, any person employed or appointed as a... correctional officer... shall:

(4) Not have been convicted of any

felony or of a misdemeanor involving perjury or a false statement... Any person who, after July 1, 1981, pleads guilty or nolo contendere to or is found guilty of any felony or of a misdemeanor involving perjury or a false statement is not eligible for employment or appointment as an officer, notwithstanding suspension of sentence or withholding of adjudication.

APPENDIX

The proposed findings of fact submitted on behalf of petitioner, individually, are addressed as follows:

1. Rejected as not supported by the proof. Petitioner's exhibit 3 is an affidavit of compliance dated August 10, 1988. See also paragraph 6 and footnote 3.

2. Addressed in paragraph 7.

3. Addressed in paragraph 8 to the extent pertinent. 4-6. Addressed in paragraphs 5, 11 and 15.

1. Addressed in paragraph 11.

2. Addressed in paragraph 14.

3. Not relevant or necessary to the result reached.

4. Addressed in paragraph 11.

11-24. Addressed in paragraph 14, otherwise rejected as subordinate.

The proposed findings of fact submitted for petitioner on the on the generic record are addressed as follows:

1-14. Rejected as recitation of witness testimony, and not findings of fact. The matters have, however, been addressed in paragraphs 9-11, and footnote 4.

15, 16, 18-20. Addressed in paragraphs 1-4 and footnotes 2 and 3.

17, 29, and 30. Addressed in footnote 3.

21. Addressed in paragraph 6, otherwise rejected as unnecessary to the result reached or a legal conclusion.

22-27. Addressed in paragraphs 2-4, and footnote 3. Otherwise rejected as subordinate to the conclusion reached.

28. Rejected as misleading and not supported by competent proof. The Commission does verify at the employing agency that the documentation required by section 943.13 (1)-(8) and Section 943.131, Florida Statutes, is being maintained. However, such inspection does not occur until an application for certification has been filed with the Commission. Where, as here, no application has been filed, the Commission has no knowledge of an individual's employment and, therefore, no opportunity or responsibility to verify any documentation. It is the employing agency's responsibility to apprise the Commission of any change of employment so that it can properly verify documentation. Dade County failed to discharge its responsibilities.

31-36. Addressed in paragraph 2 and footnote 3, otherwise rejected as subordinate.

The proposed findings of fact filed on behalf of respondent are addressed as follows:

1-2. Addressed in paragraphs 6 and 7.

3-4. Addressed in paragraphs 1, 2, 5, 6 and footnote 3.

5-6. Addressed in paragraph 11.

7. Addressed in paragraph 13.

Intervenor did not submit proposed findings of fact but did submit a post hearing brief. Accordingly, while intervenor's brief has been considered, there are no proposed findings of fact to address on behalf of intervenor.

COPIES FURNISHED:

James D. Casey, Esquire Senior Staff Attorney Dade County P.B.A.

10680 N.W. 25th Street Miami, Florida 33172

Joseph S. White, Esquire Florida Department of Law

Enforcement

Post Office Box 1489 Tallahassee, Florida 32302

Lee Kraftchick, Esquire Assistant County Attorney Metro Dade Center

111 N.W. 1st Street Suite 2810

Miami, Florida 33128

Jeffrey Long, Director Criminal Justice Standards

and Training Commission Post Office Box 1489 Tallahassee, Florida 32302

Daryl McLaughlin Executive Director Florida Department of Law

Enforcement

Post Office Box 1489 Tallahassee, Florida 32302

Rodney Gaddy General Counsel

Florida Department of Law Enforcement

Post Office Box 1489 Tallahassee, Florida 32302

Docket for Case No: 88-006415

Orders for Case No: 88-006415