Office of Attorney General of Florida
11/01/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 11/01/2024 14:54
Attorney General Moody's Week in Review - Nov 1, 2024
This week, on National First Responders Day, we announced the expansion of a lifesaving resource for our front-line heroes. Standing with Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister, state Senator Jay Collins and Crisis Center of Tampa Bay President & CEO Clara Reynolds, we unveiled the expansion of the First Responder Hope Line to all 67 counties in Florida - to offer critical mental-health resources for law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMTs and other first responders across our great state.
The Hope Line provides 24/7 lifesaving assistance to first responders and officers struggling with PTSD and other mental-health challenges. These services are critical as more than 6.6% of first responders have attempted suicide - 10 times the national average. Since 2019, more than 80 first responders committed suicide, with 12 lives lost this year alone.
So often our officers silently carry the tremendous weight of their service and feel they have no one to help lighten their load. The two recent hurricanes that struck Florida may be compounding the stress and trauma first responders face - many abandoned their own properties and families to rescue others.
The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay created the Hope Line in 2020, originally covering only five counties. This expansion will help ensure all our heroes have access to lifesaving mental-health services no matter where they serve in Florida.
First responders or law enforcement officers facing mental-health challenges can reach the Hope Line by calling 1(866) 4FL-HERO.
For more information, including where to find service-specific resources, visit LastToAsk.com.
By supporting the mental health of our first responders who sacrifice so much to protect us, we can continue building a Stronger, Safer Florida.
In The News
Ashley Moody kicks off Florida's first responder mental health hotline, WFSU Public Media Tallahassee
Read MoreFlorida Expands First Responder Hope Line Statewide, Tampa Free Press
Read MoreFirst responder helpline expanded statewide for those struggling with mental health, News Channel 8 Tampa
Read MoreBeware of the Evil Twin cyber scam, Florida's Attorney General warns, CBS 12 News
Read MoreFlorida officials warn of 'evil twin' cyber scams, ABC WDHN Dothan
Read MoreFlorida AG Warns Public Of "Evil Twin" Wi-Fi Scams, WFLA Orlando Florida News
Read MoreProtecting Floridians
Florida Lends Assist to Virginia in U.S. Supreme Court Fight for Ability to Maintain Integrity of State Voter Rolls
Attorney General Ashley Moody and state attorneys general from 24 other states are filing an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court of the United States to allow Virginia to remove noncitizens from state voter rolls.
Read MoreBondsman Arrested on Human Trafficking and Racketeering Charges for Targeting Women in Jail
Attorney General Ashley Moody's Office of Statewide Prosecution is charging a bail bondsman with human trafficking and racketeering.
Read MoreCONSUMER ALERT: Attorney General Moody Recognizes Cybersecurity Awareness Month and Warns Floridians of Evil Twin Scam
This scam involves hackers creating fake Wi-Fi networks with similar names to trusted networks in the hope that users attempt to connect and provide personal information.
Read MoreAG Moody Leads Multistate Effort Against Federal Government's Persistent Push to Prosecute Trump Following Case Dismissal
Attorney General Ashley Moody is leading a multistate coalition of other attorneys general urging the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit to affirm the dismissal of U.S. Department of Justice Special Counsel Jack Smith's indictment of former President Donald Trump.
Read MoreEvents
Attorney General Moody with Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister, state Senator Jay Collins and Crisis Center of Tampa Bay President & CEO Clara Reynolds at the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office announcing the expansion of the First Responder Hope Line statewide.