President addresses summary of FDLE report

October 24, 2007

Dear students, faculty and staff,

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement forwarded late last week its review of the University of Florida Police Department’s actions in the arrest of student Andrew Meyer.

The report is more than 300 pages and includes many hours of taped interviews of witnesses. A full review of the document to remove information protected by privacy laws may take another week or more.

However, because I believe it is important for you to at least know the findings, we are releasing the report’s 17-page executive summary today. In short, the FDLE determined that our officers acted well within state guidelines.

The two officers, who were placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, were reinstated by the University Police Department this morning and are back on normal duty. I have full confidence in the police department, which has a solid record and remains focused on keeping our campus safe.
While I am pleased that the FDLE review is complete, we still have work to do on a separate front. As an academic institution, it is our responsibility to continually review – and improve –¬ how we foster an open environment that is also safe for our ever-changing campus community.

I have faith in the student-faculty Ad Hoc Committee on a Civil, Safe and Open Environment to determine how our existing event management rules can be improved. These policies guide not only the actions of law enforcement but also event organizers and audience guests.

The committee’s goal is to develop recommendations that best ensure our campus venues are safe and secure for those attending UF-hosted events and at the same time supportive of a free exchange of ideas, no matter how controversial.
You can read the FDLE executive summary at www.president.ufl.edu or www.police.ufl.edu.

I appreciate your patience and support as this process takes its course.

Sincerely,

Bernie Machen
President
University of Florida