Sheriff Detective Ian Burres reassigned to road patrol
BSO demotes detective over alleged inaccurate crime reports
Ian Burres, 30, who joined the agency in 2001 and works at the Lauderdale Lakes station, was reassigned to road patrol when the Sheriff's Office last year began investigating whether he skipped steps in his detective work — including contacting crime victims — before he declared cases "unfounded and pending/inactive."Broward County Sheriff's Office Internal Affairs report regarding Deputy Ian Burres. (PDF)
Public defender video link to inmates to save time, expenses
DAYTONA BEACH -- Only weeks ago it could take a public defender up to two hours for a minutes-long talk with a client at the Volusia County Branch Jail.
By the time case papers were hauled back and forth to the car, the drive made from the office to the jail and back, jail officials were notified and the defendant was summoned, a good portion of the day was spent with little to show for it.
Now, computers and video technology link the Public Defender's Offices to the jail in Volusia County and are coming soon to Flagler, saving the attorneys time and taxpayers money.
"Salaries are about 95 percent of our budget," Public Defender James Purdy said. "This allows us to save both time and travel expenses."
The system also came at a low cost, with a computer specialist modifying a free computer program for the system.
The computer shows side-by-side screens -- one of the attorney in a video conference room in Daytona Beach and the other of his inmate client. There is a slight time delay in the conversations but they're still the next best thing to face-to-face meetings.
Assistant Public Defender Mike Kurey, one of the first to use the video link, said it's ideal for shorter meetings, such as follow-up conversations, to relay messages from the family or to present an offer from the state. The first time he used it in mid-February he was able to conduct four meetings within an hour.
"At first, I thought there would be a barrier," he said. "This is not designed for a long interview, but it is useful in many other circumstances."
Some meetings need more of a personal touch, Kurey said.
"You can't use this the first time (meeting)," he said. "There are always documents to review, and it would be difficult to do that through a video link."
Assistant Public Defender Frank Scott said while using the link is a little impersonal, it makes it easier for him to keep in contact with his clients.
"If it is about something really serious, I will go to the jail," he said. "At least when I touch base (using the video link), they know I am working on the case."
Meetings by video still have to be pre-arranged. The Public Defender's Office faxes the jail a list of defendants and the times when they are scheduled to "meet."
"The jail does a great job," Kurey said. "I didn't have to wait at all. They had everybody in line and ready to meet with me."
Privacy is not an issue, Kurey said. The door to the video conference room is shut and offers the same privacy an in-person meeting would.
Tony Webb, information technology specialist for the Public Defender's Office, created the program himself by modifying "open source" software available for free on the Internet, Purdy said.
"He researched what other Florida municipalities were using and figures he probably saved the Public Defender's Office about $100,000 plus annual fees," Purdy said.