Volusia charter review hearing hears call to let county council investigate police misconduct

Robert Flaherty of Deltona urged the Volusia County Charter Review Commission on Monday to propose a charter amendment that would empower the Volusia County Council to investigate police misconduct, saying recent state action removed local citizen oversight options.

"Since 07/01/2024, local governments are no longer allowed to have a citizen committee investigating complaints against police officers," Robert Flaherty said during public comment, calling on the commission to draft and test an amendment so elected officials could exercise oversight.

The commission chair, Mark Watson, opened the session by describing the listening meetings as public input for the charter-review process and said the commission would compile comments for consideration. "This is really your forum, for us to listen," Watson said.

Flaherty cited several high-profile examples to illustrate his concerns, saying he has body-worn camera footage and public records he believes conflict with internal-investigation reports. He referenced a resignation in Kissimmee in October 2024 and the June 2025 arrest of an Osceola County official, saying those events show the limits of existing accountability mechanisms. He also referenced an internal report he identified as "VSO DOC 082224," and alleged that a Volusia County deputy "claimed he had no video evidence" despite body-worn camera footage he said was available online.

Flaherty also cited statutory provisions he said were implicated, telling the commission that elements of a vehicular-caused death were not forwarded to a prosecutor and that a required court appearance did not occur. He said portions of the related report were not made available through the records department and described that as a possible violation of Florida's public-records or sunshine laws.

Commissioner Eric Henick asked county staff for an update about state legislation discussed during the meeting, referred to during the session as "SB 180." John Dyer, an assistant county attorney, said he was not aware of a lawsuit being filed yet but had seen media reports that the cities of Deltona and Edgewater had voted to participate in a larger legal challenge. "I’m not aware of a court case being filed yet," Dyer said, adding that New Smyrna Beach was expected to consider the issue the same night.

The commission did not take formal action at the listening session. Watson said staff would compile the comments gathered across the county and bring them to the commission’s next meeting for discussion. He announced that the next commission meeting will be Oct. 13 in the McGee Room at the county airport. Watson also reminded the room that the commission had previously adopted a three-minute public-comment limit at its prior meeting.

Attendance at the listening session was light; Flaherty was the only member of the public to speak. The chair and commission members thanked staff for organizing the sessions and adjourned after the scheduled time.

No amendment language was proposed or adopted during the listening session. The commission's next formal step will be to review compiled public input at its Oct. 13 meeting and decide whether to draft charter changes for referral to the County Council and, if approved, placement on a ballot for voter consideration.