Tampa FDLE leader chosen

By KEVIN GRAHAM, Times Staff Writer
Published November 2, 2007

ADVERTISEMENT Jim Madden, 49, the new special agent in charge for the region, joined the FDLE in 1990. [Handout photo]

TAMPA - Just days after the local leader of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement stepped down, the agency has chosen a replacement.

Jim Madden has been named special agent in charge of the FDLE Tampa Bay Regional Operations Center, department officials said Thursday. He replaces Lance Newman, a 23-year FDLE veteran who announced an early retirement on Monday.

Madden, 49, has been the special agent in charge of the Pensacola office since July. FDLE Commissioner Gerald Bailey also announced that Jay Etheridge, the No. 2 agent in Pensacola, will take over there.

"Both Jim and Jay bring extensive and diverse law enforcement and domestic security experience to these positions," Bailey said in a news release. "I am confident their vast knowledge and innovative leadership skills will serve the Tampa Bay and Pensacola regions well."

Madden began his law enforcement career with the Polk County Sheriff's Office, where he spent 12 years.

He joined the FDLE in 1990 and worked on the major drugs and economic crimes squads in the Fort Myers and Tampa Bay regions. He spent a year overseeing the state's domestic security efforts before he became the head agent in Pensacola this summer.

"When you look at what we do, a lot of time people probably don't understand the breadth of the things we get involved in," Madden said.

The FDLE processes forensics, aids investigations and licenses police officers across the state.

One of his goals in Tampa is to do more community outreach, he said.

"My goal is to basically be there to facilitate cooperation and coordination between FDLE and other state and local law enforcement agencies and other entities," he said.

While the leadership changes take place, the FDLE is conducting an unrelated investigation into Moses Jordan, the assistant special agent in charge in Tampa. Since Oct. 24, the agency has been looking into allegations that Jordan violated a department policy.

The Tampa Bay region is one of the largest in the state. It consists of eight counties, including Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus.

Kevin Graham can be reached at kgraham@sptimes.com or 813 226-3433.

[Last modified November 2, 2007, 00:25:58]