LAKE COUNTY, Fla. – A $1.2 million immigration-enforcement reimbursement headed to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office could help pay for everything from new jail technology to repairs on aging boats and aircraft, but Sheriff Peyton Grinnell says his agency has not yet decided where the first dollars will go.
Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia presented the sheriff’s office with a check for $1,244,737 Tuesday afternoon during an event attended by law-enforcement leaders from across Central Florida.
The money comes through Florida’s State Board of Immigration Enforcement and is intended to reimburse agencies for costs connected to immigration enforcement. State officials said the equipment purchased through the program can also strengthen broader law-enforcement operations.
Grinnell said his staff is studying the agency’s needs and will present recommendations before he decides how to divide the money.
“It won’t take long to go through $1.2 million,” Grinnell said, adding that his office plans to prioritize its needs and use the funding relatively quickly.
New agreement would bring ICE detainees to Lake County Jail
During the press conference, Grinnell disclosed that the sheriff’s office recently entered an agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to house 120 ICE detainees in the Lake County Jail.
“We just entered into an agreement with ICE to house 120 illegal aliens in the Lake County Jail,” Grinnell said. “There will be some cost associated with that.”
The sheriff did not provide the written agreement, say when the arrangement would begin or explain how much the federal government would pay Lake County for housing each detainee.
He also did not detail whether the agreement would require additional corrections officers, transportation, medical services or overtime.
Grinnell said the new state reimbursement could help the agency manage some of those costs.
The sheriff said 21 people he described as undocumented immigrants were already being held in the jail in cases involving allegations ranging from domestic violence and strangulation to murder. He said overtime may be required for their care, custody and control. Grinnell did not identify those inmates or provide additional information about their cases during the interview.
Older patrol boats could receive repairs
The sheriff said the money could also be used outside the jail.
Lake County has approximately 1,400 named lakes, making marine patrol a significant part of the sheriff’s office’s responsibilities.
Grinnell said many of the agency’s marine vessels are older, some are out of service and the sheriff’s office previously lacked enough money to complete certain repairs.
“A lot of our marine vessels are older,” Grinnell said. “Some of them are out of service. We didn’t have the money to make some necessary repairs there.”
Grinnell said the marine unit is one of the areas his staff is reviewing, but he stopped short of saying how many vessels need repairs or how much it would cost to return them to service.
Aviation unit operates aircraft with 1974 airframes
The sheriff said the agency is also considering repairs to its aviation unit.
Grinnell said the unit operates aircraft with airframes dating to 1974 that need maintenance.
The sheriff did not specify how many aircraft have those airframes, identify the aircraft models or provide an estimated repair cost.
“We have an aviation unit that has 1974 airframes that need repairs done to them,” Grinnell said. “The list goes on and on and on.”
The age of an airframe does not necessarily mean every component of the aircraft dates to the same year. Aircraft can receive updated engines, instruments and other equipment while continuing to operate with an older airframe.
Technology upgrades also under consideration
Grinnell said the sheriff’s office could use part of the reimbursement for equipment, software and other technology.
He specifically mentioned artificial-intelligence technology that could potentially be used inside the jail, although he did not identify a specific system or explain what it would do.
The sheriff said $1.2 million is a meaningful amount for purchasing equipment and upgrading software, but the agency’s list of needs means the money could be committed quickly.
Ingoglia said the state reimbursements may cover items such as:
- Radios
- Data-sharing software
- Rapid DNA systems
- Forensic imaging equipment
- Bulletproof vests
- Body cameras
- Bonus payments for officers certified under the federal 287(g) immigration-enforcement program
“The equipment that they are able to purchase goes far beyond just immigration enforcement,” Ingoglia said. “It is helping to enhance and reinforce law-enforcement capabilities across the board.”
Those were examples of expenses eligible under the broader state program. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office has not said it will purchase each of those items.
Several Central Florida agencies received checks
Lake County was one of several agencies presented with reimbursement checks during Tuesday’s event.
The announced awards included:
- Orange County Sheriff’s Office: Approximately $10.88 million
- Osceola County Sheriff’s Office: Approximately $11.04 million
- Osceola County: Approximately $223,878
- Sumter County Sheriff’s Office: Approximately $531,678
- Fruitland Park Police Department: $59,800
- St. Cloud Police Department: $38,000
- Clermont Police Department: $16,471
Osceola County Sheriff Chris Blackmon said his agency had used similar money for portable radios and new body armor with rifle plates. Sumter County Sheriff Pat Breeden said his office planned to use part of its funding to establish a real-time crime center.
Those spending decisions apply to Osceola and Sumter counties and do not represent Lake County’s final plan.
Final Lake County spending plan still pending
Grinnell said Lake County continues to grow and that the sheriff’s office has more than 800 employees. He argued that the new funding would help the agency keep pace with its public-safety responsibilities.
However, the sheriff’s office has not released a final breakdown showing how much money would go toward the ICE agreement, marine vessels, aviation repairs, jail technology or other equipment.
Grinnell said his staff will complete its review and make recommendations before he approves the spending plan.
For Lake County residents, the ultimate impact of the seven-figure check will depend on which resources return to service, which systems receive upgrades and how much of the money is used to support the county’s expanding role in federal immigration enforcement.